Kiprop denies all allegations: "At the moment, I am only armed with my spikes and training shoes.I do not take alcohol."

This is a classic he said, he said case.

If the security guard doesn't have injuries and there isn't a video tape, how does he win?

A few more thoughts.

1) Anyone live in Kenya? Could this really be a flat out made up extortion attempt? Both the allegation and denial are complete 180s of each other so it's hard to know who to believe.

2) Or is this a case of Kiprop pulling a Bill Clinton?

Notice how he says, "At the moment." Yes, at the moment, he doesn't have a gun or alcohol. Just like how Clinton tried to argue that when he told the grand jury "there is nothing" going on with him and lewinsky he wasn't lying because at the moment nothing was going on which led to the famous line of:

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is."

My original 9:35 a.m. CST message from the first thread, containing the alleged quotes from Kiprop:

Here are some alleged quotes from Asbel Kiprop, denying any assault and claiming a misunderstanding:

“I am shocked that the media went ahead to publish stories that puts me in bad light and misleading. We were from watching the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool FC that ended late at night. We were sure of not getting food in camp and decided to look for a restaurant to take dinner and that was the only restaurant operational by the time.”

“We approached the guard (Mukuria) who was manning the main door but we differed sharply. Moments later, he allowed us in after we informed him that we wanted to take dinner. But I was surprised with the lies that was propagated by the media.”

“I am a trained police officer, understand the law which I swore to safeguard and, above all, I cannot go out there and harass my fans. I have a big dream for 2014 in my athletics career which I bank on my Kenyan fans, Mr Mukuria included, for support.”

“After the incident, I received calls from people identifying themselves as journalists. But I refuted all the claims, they instead decided to malign my name. I think they associated the pistol with work as a policeman.”

These quotes are from a new article in Kenya's Standard Digital:

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/article/2000101422/setting-records-straight-world-champ-kiprop-blames-local-media-on-alleged-assault-case

I'd like to believe Kiprop, and think that he and other top Kenyan runners could be subject to smear campaigns by people looking for payoff money, however I'm skeptical and think the jury is still out.

Perhaps he'll be able to run the upcoming XC race and will make further statements.

Thanks, rojo.

Sad to say that there are enough reports of Kiprop being a hard drinker to believe his side of the story.

I would best leave it to Kenyans around that area who have surely seen him indulge to tell us the truth.

The quote from Kiprop was truncated. He actually said "I do not take alcohol intravenously."

I say Kiprop is dead or out of the sport within two years.

Wow, wow, wow!

I've just seen this story ( a few minutes ago).

I was just perusing the East African Standard and then, I saw the 'denial'.

I didn't even know of the original story regarding the assault.

I've just been enjoying christmas and the New year not caring one bit.

Wow!

To be fair, I don't know what Kiprop may or may not have done but when he says that he doesn't drink, I believe him.

AS for the gun, I have no idea just like I know nothign of the incident.

I hope he gets through this.

Let's wait for the facts.

These are the kinds of stories that no one wants.

Let me just add something;

Assuming that the allegations are true, Kiprop will not 'go anywhere'.

In other words, Kiprop will be okay.

He will get away with it. somehow.

That said, I have no information regarding what may or may not have transpired. I just learnt about it today.

True or not that denial is TIGHT! "At the moment I am only armed with my track spikes" LOL

Come on, as a runner we've all at one time been rousted by a Police Officer or two. My excuse was, "Where in these daisy dukes can I hold all my Burglary tools?!"

I agree. If he says he doesn't drink, he probably doesn't because it could be easily proven if he did. That said, I remember he was once banned from Kip Keino's camp because he'd been caught breaking the curfew and once tried to sneak a girl in ( or so the article claimed).

Kenya is a hotbed for extortion attempts for personalities with money. Its a hotbed for tabloid type journalism.

Police , newspapers can make all go way for a fee. Lawyers can help you for a fee.

Hopefully his manager/agent will get him away fem this mess and bring some stability back to his life.