This archive report was first published on 10 November 2019.
On November 10, 2019, Kenyan advocate Professor Makau Mutua published an opinion piece in a local daily, questioning Eliud Kipchoge's INEOS record.
Mutua, based in the US, argued that the conditions of the INEOS challenge favored Kipchoge, allowing him to complete the challenge within the set duration.
The professor pointed out that Kipchoge had pace setters who were friendly to him, unlike in a real contest where competitors often surround athletes.
He urged Kenyans to ignore claims that human beings can do anything, labeling the argument as unfounded and senseless.
“He ran against himself without having to be worried — or psyched out — by real competitors. Instead, he was escorted by friendly ‘sycophants’ brought there to help him break the two-hour barrier,” Mutua penned.
He added, “It’s like a boxer who knocks out a hapless sparring partner. Or a dictator running against himself. So, in a sense Mr Kipchoge’s ‘record’ is fake. The first true under-two-hour marathon hasn’t been run yet,”
