Rebecca Cheptegei: Ugandan Olympic athlete dies after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend | World News

Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died after being severely burned by her partner over an alleged land dispute.

The 33-year-old marathon runner was taken to hospital in Kenya after she… doused in gasoline by her boyfriend on Sunday, police said.

The Ugandan Athletics Federation posted on X: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei. She passed away early this morning and was tragically a victim of domestic violence.

“As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.

Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, added: “May her soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women.

“This was a cowardly and senseless act that resulted in the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will live on.”

Speaking with Kenyan According to The Star news agency, Dr Owen Menach, acting director of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, said on Wednesday night: “We lost her after all her organs failed.”

Trans Nzoia County police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said on Monday that Cheptegei’s friend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her on fire during a disagreement.

Ndiema also suffered burns and was admitted to the same hospital, police said.

Cheptegei’s parents told The Star that their 33-year-old daughter had bought land in Trans Nzoia to be close to the region’s many sports training centres.

According to a report from the local leader, it was heard that the couple had a dispute over the land the house was on before the fire broke out.

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Ms Cheptegei recently competed in the 2024 Paris Marathon Olympic Gameswhere she finished 44th.

According to the Paris Olympics website, she qualified for her Olympic marathon debut after running a personal best of 2:22:47 at the Abu Dhabi Marathon in December 2022.

She also finished 14th in the marathon at the 2023 World Championships.