Former World Champion Runner Kipyegon Bett Dead at 26 Following Illness

Kipyegon Bett, the former junior world champion in the 800 meters, tragically passed away on Sunday, October 6, at the age of 26. His family confirmed that the Kenyan athlete had been battling a serious illness for about a month before his death. 

Bett was hospitalized in Bomet, Kenya, after experiencing severe stomach pains and vomiting blood. Doctors diagnosed him with a liver condition, and he had been in and out of medical care. Despite his early successes on the track, including winning the world title in 2016, Bett’s later years were marked by struggles after being banned from athletics for doping violations in 2018. He had tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) and faced personal challenges, including alcohol abuse.

His death serves as a reminder of the pressures athletes face both on and off the field and the need for greater support in times of struggle.