Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF), the national athletics governing body has written to the Ministry of Sports and Culture recommending that that national athletics coach, Adolph Rukenkanya to be fined $ 7000 (Frw. 3,810,030).

The fine stems from the Edinburgh travel fiasco that led Rwanda to miss this year’s World Cross Country Championship which climaxed last month in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The fine is the total of the $500 that was fined on each of the 14 individuals on the team for postponing the team’s travel that was due on March 27. The team’s travel arrangements were being arranged by Satguru Tour and Travel Agency.

However Rukenkanya has played down a potential fine for losses incurred in the process saying that his side of the story has never been heard.

Adolph Rukenkanya said, "This is ridiculous. I learnt this in a letter sent to the ministry by RAF.I have asked the president of the federation to hear my side of the story too because I can’t be fined for things that I am less concerned.”

Rukenkanya said that he is a technical official and that he has nothing to do with administrative responsibilities unless Rwanda Athletics Federation, RAF, adds other responsibilities in his contract.

"It is the responsibility of the vice president, Louis Rurangirwa, who led the team to Edinburgh to explain how the losses occurred.”

Some officials in the federation who will only be disclosed before the committee or the Police are part of the whole process that delayed the issuing of the Visas, Rukenkanya noted.

According to RAF president, Jean-Pierre Munyandamutsa, the federation and the Sports Ministry will meet on Saturday to sort out the mess before the final decision is taken.

"We currently have no contract with him and everything will be sorted out with the Ministry.”

According to the letter sent by the local athletics body to the Sport Ministry, Rukenkanya is blamed for playing a hand in delaying the Visa application process for the Edinburgh team, thus denying the country’s athletes from taking part in this year’s world Cross Country Championship. The veteran coach is also blamed for embezzlement.

Rukenkanya was hired by the Sports Ministry in 2002 and has been working as a head coach as well as a technical adviser to the athletics federation.

Efforts to contact the Ministry of Sports SG Jean-Pierre Karabaranga were futile as he couldn’t answer his telephone.  

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