The Kenyan died at the hospital where he was being treated for the illness
Former 800m U20 world champion Kipyegon Beth has sadly passed away at the age of 26.
The Kenyan, who also secured a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships in London in two rounds, was receiving treatment in hospital for the illness.
By: A nationBeth was vomiting blood due to damage to some of her internal organs.
Purity Kirui, who is Beth’s sister and in 2014 Commonwealth 3000 meter running champion, told the newspaper. “He was unwell for about a month and was being treated at AIC Litein Hospital as an outpatient. On Saturday (Oct 5), his condition worsened and he was transferred to Tenwek Hospital for further investigations.”
Beth began competing internationally in 2015 and won respective gold and silver medals in the 800m at that year’s African and World Youth Championships.
The following season, he became world under-20 800m champion in Bydgoszcz, clocking 1:44.95 to take the crown.
Kipyegon Beth (R) at London 2017 (Getty)
Beth also clocked her 800m personal best of 1:43.76 in 2016, with only world record holder David Rudisha ahead of her at ISTAF Berlin.
It was no surprise, then, that Beth topped the world senior podium in 2017.
In a pulsating race at the World Championships, Beth clocked 1:45.21 to finish third behind France’s Pierre-Ambroise Bosset and Poland’s Adam Kszczot.
That year he also won the 800m at the Shanghai Diamond League, running 1:44.70 to win the event in China.
However, in 2018, Beth tested positive for EPO and was subsequently banned for four years.
He has only competed once since the race ended, and that was in the 400m hurdles two years ago.
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