Athletics: Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei is dead

The day before yesterday news broke that Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei was treated in hospital with severe burns after her boyfriend allegedly set her on fire.

Now several media outlets, including AFP, and the president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Donald Rukare, are reporting that the runner died as a result of the injuries.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei passed away early this morning after tragically falling victim to domestic violence. As a union, we condemn such actions and demand justice. May her soul rest in peace,” writes the Uganda Athletics Federation in a statement on X.

Cheptegei finished 44th in the Paris Marathon with a time of 2.32.14.

The text is updated.

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