Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei dies after allegedly being set on fire by boyfriend

Johannesburg — Ugandan athletics officials said Thursday that the country's Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei had died in a hospital in neighboring Kenya where she was being treated for burns to 80% of her body after her boyfriend allegedly doused her with gasoline and set her alight. Cheptegei, 33, died Thursday morning of organ failure four days after police said she was attacked by her partner during a dispute over land.

Cheptegi placed 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics and was well known in the marathon running world. Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said Monday that Cheptegei's boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, had bought a jerrican of gasoline and set her alight after the disagreement on Sunday.

"The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her," local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom told Kenyan media.