There is a dark cloud hanging over Kenya's athletics family.
The Kenyan federation does not mention the 'curse of Eldoret' but does not hide its dismay to confirm another loss that has struck it, the sudden death of Charles Kipkorir Kipsang, a 33-year-old marathon runner with the same name as the world bronze medalist in the 5,000m Nichola: he died in Cameroon after taking part in a mountain run.
"A dramatic event - states Athletics Kenya - which occurred the day after the funeral of the marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, victim of a road accident, and as we prepare to say our final farewell to the legendary Henry Rono", who died a few days ago at 72 years old.
The tragic end of Kiptum, who died together with his coach Gervais Hakizimana when his car went off the road, had brought to mind the 'curse of Eldoret' - the Kenyan city in the Rift Valley, where all the strongest cross-country skiers in the world train, in near which the accident occurred and where the Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to death on New Year's Eve.
Furthermore, just three years ago, the Kenyan champion Agnes Tirop was found dead in her house in Iten, near Eldoret, with her husband suspected of her murder.
In 2008, however, he died in an accident on a military vehicle on the road to Eldoret, another Kipkorir, bronze in Atlanta '96 in the 1,500.
Kipsang's sudden death, the latest in a long series, occurred in Cameroon where the Kenyan cross-country skier was taking part in a mountain race, the 'Mount Cameroon Race of Hope' in Buea, in the south-west of the country.
The athlete had completed 39 kilometers of the race, which he had led for a long time, before slowing down towards the end due to some sudden pain.
Having crossed the finish line in sixteenth place, Kipkorir collapsed and died shortly afterwards.
"We still can't say what exactly happened. We might think it was a heart attack," said the governor of the southwestern region of Cameroon, according to whom the athlete had already died upon arrival at the hospital.
Kipkorir did not have a particularly prestigious palmares, but he had achieved some victories in international races, from the Bali and Kuala Lumpur marathons to the Casablanca half marathon.
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