from asia1.com:
He wins marathon, but loses citizenship
Bahrain boots out Kenyan foreign talent for running in Israel
HE was the foreign talent who did them proud.
Long distance runner Mushir Salem Jawher won silver for Bahrain at last month's Asian Games in Doha.
Today, he is a pariah. The Bahraini authorities have revoked his citizenship for taking part in a marathon in Israel.
And Jawher, who had defected from Kenya to take up Bahraini citizenship, is not wanted by his old country either.
That's not all. Kenya has told the athlete that he may face police charges for using a Kenyan passport to enter Israel.
Jawher, who was born Leonard Mucheru, is one of several long-distance athletes who have moved from East Africa to the Gulf in recent years on lucrative contracts. His misadventure will serve as an eye-opener to many like him who are not aware of Middle East politics.
In common with most Arab nations, Bahrain does not recognise Israel, and its citizens cannot represent their country at events in the Jewish state.
After winning his first marathon - in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 12 seconds - Jawher told The Jerusalem Post that he was 'very proud' of running in Israel.
He said it was 'a free country' and that 'people should live together in harmony'.
not that losing bahraini citizenship is regrettable, i'm just positing...Bahrain boots out Kenyan foreign talent for running in Israel
HE was the foreign talent who did them proud.
Long distance runner Mushir Salem Jawher won silver for Bahrain at last month's Asian Games in Doha.
Today, he is a pariah. The Bahraini authorities have revoked his citizenship for taking part in a marathon in Israel.
And Jawher, who had defected from Kenya to take up Bahraini citizenship, is not wanted by his old country either.
That's not all. Kenya has told the athlete that he may face police charges for using a Kenyan passport to enter Israel.
Jawher, who was born Leonard Mucheru, is one of several long-distance athletes who have moved from East Africa to the Gulf in recent years on lucrative contracts. His misadventure will serve as an eye-opener to many like him who are not aware of Middle East politics.
In common with most Arab nations, Bahrain does not recognise Israel, and its citizens cannot represent their country at events in the Jewish state.
After winning his first marathon - in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 12 seconds - Jawher told The Jerusalem Post that he was 'very proud' of running in Israel.
He said it was 'a free country' and that 'people should live together in harmony'.
