Kipyegon Bett (1 February 1998 – 6 October 2024) was a Kenyan middle-distance runner specialising in the 800 metres. Bett won the 800 metres at the 2016 World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.[1] He also came second in the 800 metres at the 2015 World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.[2] In the second meet of the 2017 IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai, Bett won the 800 m event in 1:44.70.[3]

Kipyegon Bett
Bett (red shirt) in 2017
Personal information
NationalityKenyan
Born(1998-02-01)1 February 1998
Died6 October 2024(2024-10-06) (aged 26)
Bomet County, Kenya
Sport
Country Kenya
SportTrack and field
Event800 meters
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 London 800 m
World Relay Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 Nassau 4×800 m relay

Bett won the bronze medal in the 800 metres at the 2017 World Championships held in London.[4]

He tested positive for EPO in 2018[5][6] and received a four-year ban in November of the same year.[7]

He was the brother of Purity Kirui, a two-time Commonwealth Games 3000 m Steeplechase medallist.[8]

Kipyegon Bett died from renal and hepatic failure[9] on 6 October 2024, while receiving treatment at a hospital in Bomet County after being ill for over a month. He was 26.[8]

Competition record

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing   Kenya
2015 African Youth Championships Réduit, Mauritius 1st 800 m 1:51.67
World Youth Championships Cali, Colombia 2nd 800 m 1:45.86
2016 World U20 Championships Bydgoszcz, Poland 1st 800 m 1:44.95
2017 World Relays Nassau, Bahamas 2nd 4 × 800 m relay 7:13.70
World Championships London, United Kingdom 3rd 800 m 1:45:21

References

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  1. ^ Mutuota, Mutwiri (24 July 2016). "Bett, Kirui strike gold as Kenya finishes 2nd in Poland". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  2. ^ Landells, Steve (20 July 2015). "Cali 2015: Tarbei edges Bett in Kenyan 800m 1-2". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Bett stuns Rudisha to claim victory in Shanghai". Daily Nation. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  4. ^ "800 Metres Men - Final" (PDF). 8 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Kipyegon Bett latest Kenyan athlete to test positive for EPO". eurosport.com. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  6. ^ "World 800m bronze medallist Kipyegon Bett fails drug test - Olympic Channel". www.olympicchannel.com. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  7. ^ "World 800m bronze medallist Bett given four-year ban in further blow to Kenyan athletics". insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b Ayodi, Ayumba; Kimutai, Vitalis (7 October 2024). "Former U-20 800m champion Kipyegon Bett dies in Bomet hospital". Daily Nation.
  9. ^ "Kenyan athlete Kipyegon Bett dies at the age of 26". Africanews. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
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