According to local police, Kiplagat’s body was found with a knife wound on the neck, suggesting he was murdered.

Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead in Kenya, police said. The Ugandan Daily Monitor and other media outlets in Kenya reported that he had been stabbed.

Kenya-born Kiplagat, 34, had represented Uganda internationally in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, including at several Olympic Games and World Championships.

His body was discovered in a car on the outskirts of Eldoret, a town in the Rift Valley, on Saturday evening.

Eldoret is known as the home of numerous athletes who train in the high altitude region.

“An investigation has been launched and officers are at the scene to follow up on leads,” local police commander Stephen Okal told reporters in Eldoret on Sunday.

He said Kiplagat’s body had a deep knife wound on his neck, indicating he had been stabbed.

“Shocked and sad”: Condolences pour in

“World Athletics is shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Benjamin Kiplagat,” the global athletics governing body said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his friends, family, teammates and fellow athletes. Our thoughts are with all of you during this difficult time.”

Peter Ogwang, Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports, made similar comments about X.

I am saddened to hear of the death of our athlete Benjamin Kiplagat, who was reportedly murdered in Kenya. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, Ugandans and all of East Africa on the loss of such an aspiring athlete who represented us on several occasions. pic.twitter.com/yX29cBnAl3

— Peter Ogwang (@OgwangOgwang) December 31, 2023

“I extend my deepest condolences to his family, Ugandans and all of East Africa on the loss of such an aspiring athlete who represented us on the international stage on several occasions,” he said.

According to media reports, Kiplagat had trained in the Eldoret area before going to Uganda to compete in athletics competitions.

I’m still struggling to come to terms with this. Former 3000m steeplechase Benjamin Kiplagat was murdered in western Kenya today. His neck was stabbed with a knife. He represented Uganda with 3 @Olympia & 6 @WorldAthletics Championships. Won silver at the Junior World Championships in Poland in 2008… pic.twitter.com/tclMqs2k0D

— Darren Allan Kyeyune (@AllanDarren) December 31, 2023

Kiplagat, whose running career spanned about 18 years, won the silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championships and bronze at the 2012 African Championships.

He reached the semifinals of the event at the 2012 London Olympics and competed in Rio in 2016.

His death follows the October 2021 murder of Kenyan long-distance runner Agnes Tirop, who was found stabbed to death at the age of 25 in her home in Iten, a training center near Eldoret.

Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, went on trial for her murder last month. The 43-year-old denied the allegations against him and was released on bail shortly before the trial began.