Kenya’s athletics fraternity is in mourning following the death of former World U20 champion Kipyegon Bett.

The Athletics fraternity is in mourning following the death of 2016 World U20 800m champion Kipyegon Bett.

Bett, who also won bronze at the 2017 World Championships, passed away on Sunday at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County where he had been receiving treatment since Monday.

“He has been unwell for about a month and had been treated at AIC Litein Hospital as an outpatient. On Saturday, his condition deteriorated and was referred to Tenwek for further tests,” his sister Purity Kirui, the 2014 Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase champion, told Nation.

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According to Nation, Bett had been vomiting blood due to a damage to some of his internal organs.

“The family said he was admitted last week but discharged only to be admitted again when his condition worsened,” Athletics Kenya director in charge of youth development told the outlet.

Bett also won silver in 4x800m at the 2017 World Relay Championships but saw his career grand to a halt a year later when he was handed a four-year doping ban for the use of blood booster Erythropoietin commonly known as EPO.

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His last race was at the 2022 third Athletics Kenya track and field meeting where he competed in the 400m and finished third.