The Rise, Fall, and Tragic End of Kipyegon Bett: A Tale of Triumph, Betrayal, and Doping Scandal

Kipyegon Bett competes in the Men's 800 Metres semi finals at the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships in London in 2017. Image credit: Getty Images

Kipyegon Bett's story is the kind that stirs hearts and leaves you questioning the fairness of life. Once hailed as Kenya’s rising star in athletics, the 26-year-old tragically passed away after battling an illness at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County. But his death wasn’t just the end of his life—it marked the conclusion of a career filled with potential, heartbreak, and scandal.

Bett's athletic journey began on a high note. Just two years after launching his professional career, he was already bagging medals. In 2017, he won bronze in the 800m at the World Championships in London. But behind the medals and applause, Bett was living a nightmare that would ultimately derail his promising future.

In 2017, at just 20 years old, Bett was hit with two doping-related charges by World Athletics. He was suddenly thrust into the center of a global scandal. The first charge? Violating anti-doping rules. But Bett wasn’t going down without a fight—he pointed fingers at his management, accusing them of failing him when he needed them most. He claimed they had neglected to notify event organizers about his whereabouts while he competed in other races.

In an interview with CGTN, Bett explained his side of the story: "There was another case about missing a disc, and my management didn’t update my whereabouts. I was in Eugene and Stockholm. Something was going on that I didn’t know."

But his management wasn’t having any of it. They fired back, blaming Bett for his own downfall. According to them, he was the one responsible for his whereabouts and the doping fiasco. The message was clear: Bett was on his own.

Things went from bad to worse when Bett was accused of refusing to provide samples for doping tests. He admitted to missing a test but argued it wasn’t his fault. "The only test I missed was when one guy came alone. According to ADAK rules, you need a witness. I didn’t refuse, but I asked them to come with someone who could justify the process," Bett said, defending himself.

Then came the knockout blow: a more serious charge involving the use of erythropoietin (EPO), a performance-enhancing drug. Bett denied the accusations, claiming it was the first time he'd ever heard of the substance. But the damage was done—he was suspended, and his career was left hanging in the balance.

Bett competing in a past race.

Behind the scenes, Bett said his management urged him to admit to doping, even though he insisted he was clean. He refused to lie, and as a result, the ban went into full effect, effectively crippling his career. "My management told me to accept the accusations and admit to using doping substances, but I didn’t use anything," Bett revealed.

After years of fighting for his name, Bett returned to the track in 2022. He competed in the 400m hurdles at the Kenya Track Meeting, finishing third. But it wasn’t the glorious comeback story we hoped for. His racing days were cut short, and just when it seemed like life might give him a second chance, tragedy struck.

Kipyegon Bett’s story is one of triumph, betrayal, and tragic loss. A young athlete who flew too close to the sun, only to be brought down by forces beyond his control. And now, his journey has come to a heartbreaking end.