Agnes Tirop: Husband 'a suspect' after world record holder found stabbed to death at home in Kenya

World record holder Agnes Tirop has been found dead at her home in Kenya, with police treating her husband as a suspect.

The 25-year-old, who broke the women-only 10,000m road record last month, was found stabbed to death at her home in the western town of Iten, which is renowned as a training base for distance runners.

She was discovered by police on Wednesday after being reported missing by her father on Tuesday night, according to reports.

Tom Makori, the head of police for the area, confirmed that Ms Tirop’s husband was a suspect.

“When [police] got in the house, they found Tirop on the bed and there was a pool of blood on the floor,” he said.

“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.”

The Kenyan athlete, who finished fourth in the Olympic 5,000m final two months ago, collected world championship bronze over 10,000m in 2017 and 2019.

A statement from Athletics Kenya on Wednesday read: “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.”

Adding to tributes, Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, said: “Athletics has lost one of its brightest young stars in the most tragic circumstances."