Cheptegei, originally from Uganda, had purchased land in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County and built a house to be closer to the country’s renowned athletic training centers.
According to a report filed by a local administrator, the couple had been involved in a dispute over the property. Police have launched an investigation into the attack.
Cheptegei is a prominent athlete, finishing 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics. She also won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation expressed deep regret over the incident, stating that Cheptegei had “suffered severe injuries.”
The federation also appeared to state that the attack was perpetrated by her Kenyan boyfriend, who “poured petrol and set fire on her,” according to a statement released on social media.
