- Athletics coach Elkanah Ruto has urged parents to financially support young athletes to reduce their vulnerability to exploitation.
- He warned that financial hardship often pushes aspiring athletes into risky relationships and situations.
- Stakeholders also called for stronger action against gender-based violence and abuse of power in athletics.
Parents have been urged to financially support their children pursuing athletics careers to protect them from exploitation during training.
Coach Elkanah Ruto said many upcoming athletes, particularly women, come from disadvantaged backgrounds and struggle to meet their daily expenses.
“Many young athletes come from humble families and face challenges meeting their basic needs during training. As a result, some are forced to depend on people commonly referred to as sponsors, who later exploit them,” said Ruto.
He noted that parental support can help shield young athletes from exploitative relationships with fellow athletes, coaches and other individuals seeking to take advantage of their financial vulnerability.
Call for formal support agreements
Speaking during a seminar for athletes’ managers and coaches in Iten, he advised that where parents are unable to provide adequate support, coaches who choose to assist athletes financially should enter into formal agreements with them.
“If a coach decides to support an athlete financially during training, there should be a clear contract outlining how the money will be recovered or repaid. This helps prevent misunderstandings and exploitation,” he said.
The coach observed that many female athletes enter relationships at a young age in search of financial support.
However, when they later seek to end such relationships after achieving success, some partners react violently.
“Some young women get into relationships because they need support. When they mature and want to move on, the men feel betrayed, which sometimes results in violence,” he said.
Ruto emphasized that gender-based violence (GBV) affects both women and men.
“GBV is not only about women. Some men also suffer violence, but cultural barriers prevent them from speaking out. More sensitization is needed to address the problem,” he added.
Concern over abuse of power
Collins Kipkirui, a Programme Assistant at the Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG), which organized the seminar, expressed concern over abuse of power by some coaches.
“A coach determines whether an athlete is ready to compete and which races they participate in. Some athletes desperate for income are pressured into relationships with coaches in exchange for opportunities to compete,” said Kipkirui.
Elgeyo Marakwet County GBV Coordinator Philemon Kittony said intimate partner violence and physical assault remain among the most commonly reported GBV cases in the county.
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He called for continued awareness campaigns and stronger support systems to protect vulnerable individuals and address the root causes of gender-based violence.
By Kimutai Langat
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