The husband of record breaking runner Agnes Tirop has been arrested following her death and is set to be charged with her murder.

Police in Kenya said on Wednesday that the 25-year-old had been found dead in her home having been stabbed.

In a post to social media, the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said that Ibrahim Rotich was detained in Changamwe, Mombasa county, “as he tried to flee to a neighbouring country to evade justice”.

It added that Rotich had rammed a lorry with his car “while trying to evade arrest”.

Tirop was found 400 miles away in Iten, a town in western Kenya renowned as a training base for distance runners.

Last month she broke the world record in the women-only 10km road race – logging a time of 30:01 in Germany, which was 28 seconds faster than the previous record.

Tirop also took home the bronze medal at the 2017 and 2019 10,000m races at the world championships.

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She finished fourth in the 5,000m at this year’s Olympics.

In a statement, DCI said: “The prime suspect in the gruesome murder of 25-year-old world 5,000m record holder Agnes Tirop, has been arrested. Ibrahim Rotich, who was in a relationship with the athlete was arrested moments ago in Changamwe, Mombasa county, as he tried to flee to a neighbouring country to evade justice.

“Tirop’s lifeless body was found lying on her bed Wednesday morning in Iten, with visible stab wounds on her abdomen.”

Footage from Kenya had shown friends and family of Tirop looking distraught as they left her home.

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International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said in a statement: “I’m deeply shocked by the tragic death of Agnes Tirop, a young and bright talent. Her performances at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 gave hope and inspiration to so many people.”

“Kenya has lost a jewel,” Athletics Kenya said.

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