Kenyan long-distance runner Agnes Tirop has been found stabbed to death at her home at the age of 25.
Tirop took bronze medals in the 10,000 m events at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, as well as the gold medal in the senior race at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships aged 19.
The Olympian was also a world-record holder in the women's only 10 km road race - which she set in Germany last month with a time of 30:01 - and police are treating her husband as a suspect in the case.
In a statement, police chief Tom Makori said: "When [police] got in the house, they found Tirop on the bed and there was a pool of blood on the floor.
"They saw she had been stabbed in the neck, which led us to believe it was a knife wound, and we believe that is what caused her death.
"Her husband is still at large, and preliminary investigations tell us her husband is a suspect because he cannot be found. Police are trying to find her husband so he can explain what happened to Tirop."
Kenya's athletics federation paid tribute to Tirop following her passing, saying in a statement: "Athletics Kenya are this afternoon distraught to learn about the untimely death of World 10,000 m bronze medallist Agnes Tirop.
"Tirop was found dead at their home in Iten after she was allegedly stabbed by her husband. We are still working to unearth more details surrounding her demise.
"Kenya has lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances on the track. We pray that God may grant strength to family and friends at this difficult time."
Tirop just missed out on a podium finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing fourth in the women's 5,000 m race, 0.75 seconds off the bronze medal.
Ben Knapton
