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Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in a critical condition in a Kenyan hospital, after allegedly being doused with petrol and set on fire by a former boyfriend. <\/p>\n
The 33-year-old marathon runner, who competed at the recent Paris Olympics, had suffered burns to more than 75% of her body, police said. <\/p>\n
She was attacked at her home in western Kenya, where she had been training.<\/p>\n
There are concerns about the increasing cases of violence against female athletes in Kenya, some of which have resulted in death. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ms Cheptegei is said to have been rescued by neighbours after the incident that happened on Sunday at her home in the small town of Endebess. <\/p>\n
She was returning from church with her two children when she was targeted.<\/p>\n
The alleged attacker also sustained serious burns, local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom told journalists. <\/p>\n
The two are being treated at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the main town in the region. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her,\u201d Mr Kosiom was quoted as saying. <\/p>\n
Ms Cheptegei, from a region just across the border in Uganda, is said to have bought a piece of land in Trans Nzoia county and built a house, to be near Kenya’s many athletic training centres.<\/p>\n
A report filed by a local administrator said the two had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say an investigation is under way. <\/p>\n
Ms Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics. <\/p>\n
She also won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.<\/p>\n
In April 2022, another female runner, Damaris Mutua, was found strangled<\/a> in a home with a pillow over her face in the Rift Valley town of Iten. <\/p>\n It came months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death<\/a> in the same town. <\/p>\n In both cases, their partners have been identified by the authorities as the main suspects.<\/p>\n Ms Tirop’s husband is currently facing murder charges, which he denies, while a search for Ms Mutua’s boyfriend continues.<\/p>\n Men have also been targeted.<\/p>\n Last December, another Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to death<\/a> by assailants in Eldoret. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n