World Athletics says it has recognized campaigning towards gender-based violence as a precedence.
Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei turned the third athlete to be killed in Kenya previously three years after she was doused in petrol and set on fire by a former boyfriend in September.
The World Athletics Athletes’ Fee known as on World Athletics to take a management function and discover partnerships with related organisations to push for change.
Athletes’ Fee chair Valerie Adams mentioned: “In a sport as various and common as athletics, it’s uncommon to see athletes from completely different international locations, disciplines and socio-economic backgrounds agree on one thing as unanimously as the subject of gender-based violence.”
New Zealand’s retired two-time Olympic shot put champion Adams added: “We as athletes are in a novel place to leverage our profiles and social affect in our communities to foyer for change. It’s going to take a concerted effort from all of us to be leaders within the house to affect and drive the change we’d like.”
Cheptegei’s dying got here after 10km world-record holder Agnes Tirop was stabbed to dying in 2021 and, six months later, long-distance runner Damaris Mutua was strangled.
In an announcement following the 236th World Athletics Council Assembly in Monaco, World Athletics mentioned “latest high-profile instances in Africa [have sent] shockwaves by the game”.
It added: “Gender-based violence is a world difficulty, with all 18 members of the Athletes’ Fee – from 18 completely different international locations throughout all six areas – highlighting the impression and extent of gender-based violence of their areas.”
Whereas accepting World Athletics’ restricted jurisdiction outdoors the game, the Athletes’ Fee mentioned it hoped World Athletics can drive change by elevating consciousness, training and lobbying for change.
