AIMS Statement Regarding Athlete Rita Jeptoo

Today, Saturday 1st of November 2014 ,AIMS: The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races issued the following statement.
 
AIMS has decided that due to the current circumstances surrounding athlete Rita Jeptoo, that it is no longer appropriate that she be considered a candidate for this year’s AIMS Best Marathon Runner of the Year Award due to be announced next Friday the 7th of November 2014 in Athens, Greece.
 
About the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award Gala

The purpose of the BMR Award Gala is to:
 
I.          Announce and honour the best male and female Marathon runners of the year through the AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER (BMR) Award. The BMR Award replaces the AIMS World Athlete of the Year Award.
II.        Recognise and honour exceptional Marathon figureheads and personalities for their contribution to the development of the Marathon movement.
III.       Publicise and promote the best practice and initiatives of AIMS members (370+ race organisers) through the establishment of special environmental and social awards.
IV.       Enhance the role, programs and services of AIMS.
The event will be staged in Athens, Greece on Friday 7 November 2014.

About AIMS
 
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) is a member based organisation and since being established in 1982 has grown to a membership of more than 370 of the world’s leading distance races, from over 100 countries and territories. AIMS Members come from every continent on the planet and include the Athens Marathon, the Authentic formed on the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier-runner who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the Persians had been defeated in the ‘Battle of Marathon’. Other AIMS members include many of the world’s greatest distance races in history such as the Berlin, Boston and Chicago Marathons.
 
The three key objectives of AIMS are:

    To foster and promote distance running throughout the world
    To work with the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) on all matters relating to international road races.
    To exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the association.
      
Peter McLean, Director of Public Relations
Association of International Marathons & Distance Races