Kenyan marathoner Joan Nancy Rotich has shared a heartbreaking story of how she lost millions of shillings earned from her marathon career due to betrayal by those she trusted, including her former boyfriend.
At the height of her career, Rotich was a well-known and respected figure in both marathons and half-marathons, representing Kenya in several international competitions such as the Taipei Marathon in China and the Jakarta Marathon in Indonesia during the early 2010s.
However, Rotich now reveals that she is living in difficult conditions, with her career taking a sharp decline, and much of the money she earned from her success in these races ending up in the wrong hands.
In a video obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, Rotich spoke candidly about how she trusted her ex-boyfriend with her money, only for him to deceive her and take everything they had invested together.
“I gave him the money I won,” Rotich explained in the video. “I thought he loved me, so I trusted him. I bought two tour cars, but he put his name on those cars.”
Rotich also claimed that she had invested in building a home with the hope of a shared future, but her ex-partner took full control of everything, leaving her with nothing.
But it wasn’t just her ex-boyfriend who took advantage of her. Rotich also pointed fingers at her former agent, accusing him of manipulating her and stealing her earnings from the 2018 Doha Marathon in Qatar.
After a strong performance in the race, Rotich was awarded Ksh1.6 million, but the agent convinced her to send the money to his personal bank account.
“Another race in Qatar, I won KSh 1.6 million. The agent cheated us into depositing the money into his account,” she said. “Now he’s in Germany. I’ve been trying to reach him, but he keeps telling me that there’s nothing I can do to him.”
The Athletes Welfare Initiative Kenya has shown interest in helping Rotich seek justice, offering some hope in her ongoing struggle.
Despite all the setbacks and challenges she has faced, Rotich still dreams of returning to the marathon scene and making a strong comeback, even though she is now in the later stages of her career.
Sadly, Rotich’s story is not an isolated one. Many female athletes have been taken advantage of by their partners or agents, often facing devastating consequences.
In December, the World Athletics Council, through its Athletes’ Commission and Gender Leadership Taskforce, expressed its commitment to addressing these issues urgently.
They identified three key areas for improvement: raising awareness, providing education, and advocating for change.
The Athletes Commission has also recommended that World Athletics work with relevant organizations to combine efforts in tackling gender-based violence and exploitation in the sports industry.
Through these actions, the aim is to create a safer and more supportive environment for female athletes like Joan Nancy Rotich.
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