Kenyan born runner Kamel revokes Bahrain residency

NAIROBI, Wednesday - Kenyan-born runner Youssef Saad Kamel has revoked his Bahraini residency and accused the Gulf state of withholding bonuses, lack of respect and encouraging him to lie about his age, Kenyan officials said on Wednesday.

In response, the Bahrain Athletic Association (BAA) said Kamel, formerly Gregory Konchellah, had been neglecting his duties and accused him of issuing empty threats.

Kamel, who finished fifth in the Beijing Olympics men's 800 metres final, made the allegations in a December 9 letter to Athletics Kenya.

"This is to inform you that I...have decided to revoke my residency with Bahrain with immediate effect," it said.

Kamel said he was denied bonuses earned in various races, was still classed just as a resident, not a citizen, and had been discriminated against by Bahrainis for being African.

"I also object to the recruitment of underage Kenyan athletes by the Bahraini Athletic Association," the letter said.

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"I would like to draw your attention to my first Bahrain passport which shows I was born in 1987, while my date of birth is 1983...This change was done to enable me represent Bahrain in the junior category of IAAF Championships which I declined because the Kenyan authorities would have raised objection."

The head of Athletics Kenya, David Okeyo, told Reuters Kamel's letter had been forwarded to the Kenyan government, Bahraini authorities and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) "for further action". He did not elaborate.

Labatet.com, a website popular with Kenyan runners based overseas, quoted BAA President Sheikh Talal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa as saying Kamel had been warned for neglecting his duties after he boycotted a team training camp in Ethiopia.

"If Youssef is truly serious about giving up his Bahraini citizenship, then the BAA board will also look at it seriously and take a final decision in the next few weeks," Khalifa said.

"He has made statements like this many times before."

(Reuters)