After a protracted illness, Kenya’s Kipyegon Bett, who placed third in the 800 meters at the 2017 London World Championships, died away on Sunday. The startling news that Bett, who was just 26 years old, had died of liver and renal failure shocked the sporting community.

Kipyegon, who won several medals at the youth level, was one of his country’s most promising middle-distance runners; nevertheless, the World Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) issued him a four-year suspension that would change his life.

The athletes themselves denied using erythropoietin (EPO), a performance-enhancing substance, to improve their performance, despite reports that the Kenyan runners had tested positive for it. He was prohibited from competing in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and the Oregon World Championships in 2022 because of the suspension.

After being banned, middle-distance runner Bett battled alcoholism and sadness, according to her sister, who spoke with AFP.

“He began drinking excessively and fell into despair. Purity Kirui told AFP, “We made an effort to motivate him to return to the track after his suspension ended in August 2022, but he didn’t put in much effort.”

Bett was at the hospital in his hometown of Kericho in western Kenya, a week before he died. After his health deteriorated and the renal issues proved to be deadly, he was first released from the hospital but later needed to be readmitted.

Bett’s sister said that on Sunday, both his liver and kidneys had ceased to function due to significant damage.

Kipyegon Bett has taken home many coveted championships, including the World Under-20 800m title.

Kenya is seen as one of the most promising countries for producing track and field athletes, yet in the last three years, 80 athletes from the country have been sanctioned. This is not the first doping controversy to surface from Kenya.