By Insight Post Uganda
Long-distance athlete Edward Kiplagat alias Benjamin was on Sunday found dead inside a car in Eldoret.
According to Moiben Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal, the athlete’s body was found inside his brother’s car in Texas near Kimumu Secondary School along Eldoret-Iten Road.
The Police Commander also confirmed that Kiplagat’s body was found with a deep knife cut on the neck.
He added that a team of officers was dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident.
Our officers are on the ground following crucial leads,” he informed the media.
Kiplagat specialised in long-distance races, recently representing Uganda in the Rio Olympics Games in 2016.
The 34-year-old received several accolades in the course of his 17-year career including World Under 20 Championships Silver medallist, African Championships Bronze medallist, and was ranked in the Top 8 category in the Commonwealth Games as well as the All-African Games.
According to the World Athletics Rankings, he was placed 38th overall in the Men’s 3,000 metre Steeplechase.
Over the years, he has participated in various competitions globally including the Shanghai Samsung Diamond League, Lausanne Athletissima in Switzerland, Paris Meeting Areva and Hengelo Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in the Netherlands.
In June 2012, Kiplagat made history after clinching bronze in the 3,000-metre Steeplechase final, the first medal of any kind to be won by a Ugandan male athlete following years of dominance by the Kenyan athletes.
The incident follows the death of athlete Agnes Tirop who was murdered in September 2021, weeks after she broke a world record in Germany.
Tirop’s body was found with multiple stab wounds at her home in Iten, signalling the brutality of the crime.
Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, is the main suspect in her murder and is still in custody and facing trial over the incident.
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