Zane Robertson, the disgraced long-distance runner from New Zealand, has been released on bail by a Kenyan court while facing a slew of charges, including attempted rape. The court ordered Robertson to surrender his passport as a condition of his release.
Robertson, who is currently serving an eight-year ban for doping violations, appeared in a courtroom in the northwestern town of Iten, where he has been in custody since his arrest on September 20.
Iten principal magistrate Emily Kigen granted Robertson bail, setting the bond at two million Kenyan shillings (approximately $13,500), along with a surety of the same amount. In addition to surrendering his passport, the court ruled that the accused would not be permitted to leave the country unless granted permission by the court.
Magistrate Kigen stated, “Further to this, I shall direct that the accused will not be allowed to travel out of the country unless with the permission of the court.”
The case will see a further hearing scheduled for October 23, during which additional details may emerge as the investigation progresses.
This latest legal episode is yet another setback for Zane Robertson, who in March of this year was handed an eight-year ban by the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand for two doping violations. These violations included being in possession of the performance-enhancing substance Erythropoietin (EPO) and tampering with evidence.
