This archive report was first published on 10 November 2019.
On November 10, 2019, Prof Makau Mutua, a US-based lawyer and top scholar, expressed his skepticism about Eliud Kipchoge's record-breaking marathon in an opinion piece published in The Daily Nation.
Kipchoge had set a new record by completing a 26.2-mile race in 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds, a feat that left many in awe.
However, Prof Mutua was not convinced, arguing that the conditions of the INEOS challenge favored Kipchoge to complete the marathon within the said duration.
He claimed that the presence of pacesetters who were friendly to Kipchoge gave him an unfair advantage, unlike in a real contest where competitors are often surrounded by rivals.
Prof Mutua also questioned the legitimacy of the record, stating that Kipchoge had run against himself without the pressure of real competitors, and that the first true under-two-hour marathon had not been run yet.
He concluded by saying that Kipchoge's record was 'fake' and that Kenyans should ignore the claims that human beings can do anything in this world.
