Rosa & Associati and Volare Sports reportedly suspended for six months by Kenya’s athletics federation

Two athlete management companies, Rosa & Associati and Volare Sports, have been suspended for six months by Athletics Kenya, The Associated Press has reported.

This news followed a report by Kenya’s Capital FM Sports which stated that the country’s athletics federation “accused the two firms of being responsible for the surge in doping cases in the country that has seen 36 runners test positive” including Rita Jeptoo (pictured) who in January was handed a two-year doping ban.

The Associated Press reported that Athletics Kenya had not made specific accusations against the two management companies, but said that they would be suspended “from working in the country for six months pending the investigations”.

Rosa & Associati’s Federico Rosa advised AW that he had not yet been formally told of a suspension or the reasons for any suspension. Gerard van de Veen of Volare Sports told AW that he also hadn’t been officially told of a suspension, adding that he is “surprised and very angry”.

Jeptoo was represented by Rosa & Associati, which is currently the agent to athletes such as world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop. Athletes managed by Volare Sports include marathon world record-holder Dennis Kimetto and former holder of that world record, Wilson Kipsang.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the IAAF advised AW that the international governing body was still seeking official confirmation of the situation from Athletics Kenya.

Agents are authorised by member federations rather than the IAAF and this can be revoked at any time. However, the world governing body said members should provide reasons to the agent and then, after hearing the views of the agent, should report any revocation to the IAAF within 24 hours.

As of at least 24 hours after the initial reports, the IAAF spokesperson had heard of no formal revocation.