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Kenyan ‘Golden Girl’ Faith Kipyegon wins maiden World Athletics Women Athlete of the Year 2023

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Faith Kipyegon, popularly called “Kenyan Golden Girl”, ended a spectacular 2023 by winning the maiden World Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year in a glittering ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Kipyegon won ahead of Jamaica’s world 200m champion, Shericka Jackson, and Netherland’s 400m Hurdles world champion, Femke Bol.

World Athletics had changed the awards categories this year by naming six athletes as the World Athletes of the Year, against just two categories in the previous years, which means Kipyegon is the first female athlete to pick the inaugural award.

According to the World Athletics, the adaptation follows the feedback received during the voting process with many calling for more names to be added to the list.

Kipyegon, a double Olympic champion, etched her name in athletics history books when she became the first female in history to win both the 1500m and 5000m at the World Championships in Budapest in August, setting three different world records in a 50-day sequence.

Her outstanding 2023 season was highlighted by breaking Genzebe Dibaba’s World Record (WR) with a sensational time of 3:49.11, becoming the first woman to break the 3:50 barrier.

The record also set the pace for a clutch of world records she will later achieve in the 5000m and one mile, making her one of the most outstanding athletes of the 2023 season.

The elated Kipyegon, while reacting to her prize, said:

“Today is a beautiful closure of an amazing year for me. I am honoured that my performances on the track have been recognized by the athletics community.

“The support of my family, team, training partners and fellow competitors fuels me to work hard and chase my dreams and ambitions. I hope my achievements motivate and inspire many girls to do the same.”

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Italian couple name new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman

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An Italian couple have reportedly named their new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, after he scored a spectacular goal against Olympic Marseille of France in the Europa League semifinal second leg match to take Atalanta to the final.

The Nigerian striker opened the scoring for Atalanta before Ruggeri and Toure sealed the win in their second-leg semi-final tie to set up a mouth-watering final tie with Victor Boniface’s Leverkusen.

According to reports from EuroFoot on X, Ademola’s performance was recognised by the couple who live in Palosco, a district in Bergamo where the Italian club is based.

“Somebody named their child after Ademola Lookman following his goal which helped send the Italian club to the Europa League final!” EuroFoot said in the post.

The post added that Lookman’s contribution to Atalanta’s advancement to the Europa League final caught the attention of the adoring Italian couple who decided to name their child after him.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian international was on Friday, named the Europa League Player of the Week following his outstanding performance in Atalanta’s 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille in the semifinal.

According to UEFA’s official website, Lookman’s performance also included three attempts, further highlighting his influential role in Atalanta’s dominant display

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AIU suspends Kenyan marathoner Josephine Chepkoech over alleged use of prohibited substances

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The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenyan half distance runner, Josephine Chepkoech, over alleged use of prohibited substances during the Barcelona Half Marathon held on February 17, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.

The AIU, in a statement on Thursday, said Chepkoech was suspended following allegations of doping involving the prohibited substance, testosterone.

In the statement, the AIU said Chepkoech had been served with a Notice of Allegation for violating Article 2.1 and Article 2.2 of its anti-doping regulations.

“The AIU has provisionally suspended Josephine Chepkoech (Kenya) for Presence (Testosterone Metabolites)/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone),” the AIU stated.

Chepkoech ran a personal best marathon time of 2:22:38 in February at the Seville Marathon, but with the suspension, the record is not likely to stand.

The AIU said the move was part of its crackdown on prohibited substances in athletics which has seen a rising number of Kenyan athletes penalized.

The 35-year-old had made her marathon debut in 2018 at the Nairobi Marathon, dominating the women’s race with a winning time of 2:33:11.

Her provisional suspension means she cannot participate in any competition until a final decision is reached which could result in an acquittal or a formal ban.

She faces a two-year ban pending a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal.

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