Mibu Town Government Hires Kenyan Runner Ngandu As Civic Running Coach

Video: Benjamin Ngandu passing 12 people to win the 2013 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage for Nihon University.

Placing a high importance on promoting a healthy lifestyle among its citizens through sports, the town government of Mibu, Tochigi has hired a Kenyan amateur runner who was once a star on the university ekiden and corporate marathon circuits to serve as running coach for local residents. The new civic employee is Benjamin Ngandu, 29.

On Aug. 3 at Mibu Town Hall Ngandu received an official letter of appointment from mayor Kazuya Kosuge. Competing against other top Kanto Region universities, Ngandu was a stage winner at the prestigious Hakone Ekiden, and as a corporate league runner he had success as a marathoner including a win at the 2016 Osaka Marathon. Three years ago he retired, taking a job at a company in Aichi and continuing to run as an amateur.

Ngandu will coach local residents in preparation for January's municipal ekiden, focusing on work with junior high school students and promotion of civic health through exercise. Mayor Kosuge commented, "I'm looking forward to seeing our next generation of athletes take shape through the eyes of a pro. I want our children to experience the importance of learning running form." Ngandu said, "As a coach I want to help them develop both stamina and speed. I hope that together the people of Mibu and I can work together to better ourselves. Thank you for this chance."

Translator's note: In the summer of 2015 Ngandu tested positive for norandrosterone at a race in Europe and was provisionally suspended. Almost two years later he was given a backdated 20-month sentence by Kenyan authorities. During that period he continued to compete in Japan, including the 2016 and 2017 Tokyo Marathons and his win at the 2016 Osaka Marathon, results which were later annuled. The IAAF appealed to the CAS and won its case, getting a four-year suspension for Ngandu that began with the date of the CAS ruling instead of being backdated to his initial suspension start date. That suspension is set to expire in November, 2021. Mayor Kosuge and Ngandu are both graduates of Nihon University.

source articles:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/utsunomiya/20200803/1090007431.html
https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/item/iaaf-successful-in-cas-appeal-against-the-anti-doping-agency-of-kenya-athletics-kenya-benjamin-ngandu-ndegwa
https://apnews.com/1ae6b31d90e448de82b22c1139e2f858
translated by Brett Larner

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