Former head of Kenyan athletics dies amid corruption probe

Nairobi - The former head of athletics in Kenya, under investigation for corruption and a doping cover up, died on Wednesday aged 72, his family said.

Isaiah Kiplagat ran Athletics Kenya for 23 years, but his career ended in disgrace in November when he was suspended along with two others, accused of corruption and covering up doping among Kenyan runners, over 40 of whom have been banned since 2012.

Family members said the former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) council member had been suffering from cancer and died on Wednesday morning.

Kiplagat, senior vice-chairman David Okeyo and former treasurer Joseph Kinyua, are accused of stealing $500,000 (442,000 euros) paid to Athletics Kenya by American sports company Nike and of "potential subversion of the anti-doping control process in Kenya," according to the IAAF, the world governing body for athletics.

An investigation led by former Kenyan prosecutor Sharad Rao has yet to present its findings.