GBV: Women athletes share violence ordeals in forum

Female athletes and coaches shared ordeals of gender-based violence (GBV).

A forum in Eldoret was told how young and upcoming athletics have suffered in training bases where GBV was taking place quietly.

Many cases were going unreported because victims, a majority of them junior female athletes, feared retaliations from perpetrators, the forum organised by Office of the President and comprising hundreds of upcoming athletes, was told.

From untamed rogue coaches to fight-backs by perpetrators, and to female stars losing hard-earned wealth to some unscrupulous athletes' support and oppression by men in their training bases, female athletes and their coaches cried out for help during the forum.

The forum also told how some coaches have turned into massage therapists with the intention of sexually abusing young athletes.

Rising 800m star Maureen Chepkirui told the forum how her female counterparts were suffering in the hands of GBV perpetrators.

“When I first went to Iten for training, I lived in a residence where young female athletes lived with their male counterparts who were way older and I thought it was normal. I was lucky because I lived with an older female who took care of me,” Chepkirui said.

“After sometime, I saw the male athletes switching the same female athletes and I was shocked because I feared that it would lead to GBV.”

Former 800m World Champion Janeth Jepkosgei took issue with some cultural barriers, which she said were impeding the battle against GBV in athletics.

Jepkosgei, a World Athletics refugee trainer, said it was saddening to see parents of GBV victims protecting suspected perpetrators.

“Parents are covering up serious GBV cases in the name of culture. Some cultural beliefs favour stability of marriages at the expense of suffering in the hands of abusers,” Jepkosgei told the forum.

The retired athlete-cum coach recalled cases where she faced backlash in her quest to fight for girls facing GBV.

Jepkosgei said several battles against GBV have been won and several others lost.

“I remember cases where I have been attacked for defending young female athletes abused by individuals who should be protecting them," she said.

Marathoner Viola Lagat said the fight against GBV has previously been derailed by fear of victims to speak up.

Lagat said recent attempts have emboldened young athletics stars to raise their voices against GBV.

“Manipulation in sports starts at a young age. In some cases it starts in primary school,” she said.