The husband of Agnes Tirop has reportedly confessed to killing the 25-year old at her home in Iten, Kenya.
Tirop was found dead on Wednesday the day after her father had filed a report with police to say the former World Championship bronze medalist was missing.
Her husband - Emmanuel Rotich - was named by police as a suspect in her death.
Elgeyo Marakwet County police chief Tom Makori informed reporters of claims that Rotich confessed to her killing.
Tirop was found at her home with stab wounds to her neck.
"There are revelations which came from her husband's family," said Makori.
"We received a message from the family of Tirop's husband that the husband had phoned the parents while crying and asking that God forgive him as there is something bad he had done."
Neighbours told Tuko that Tirop and Rotich had been arguing more frequently, requiring regular intervention from family members.
""She had not been home since returning from Japan [Olympics]," one neighbour said, "Tirop said she was physically abused and fled to the training camp to seek refuge.
"She had just returned home following the arbitration by the family and friends."
Makori revealed the gruesome details regarding the discovery of Tirop's body.
"When police went to Tirop's house they found her in bed with blood under the bed and a lot of it on the floor," he said.
"When police looked at the body, it looked like she had been stabbed on the neck with what we suspect to be a knife."
Tirop won bronze medals in the 10,000m at both the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.
She broke the 10,000m road race world record in Germany in September, and placed 4th in the women's 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics.
The first two legs of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Championships have been postponed following Tirop's death.
"We will not only just sit back here but tomorrow we plan to visit her parents to stand with them and reassure them that we are with them throughout this tough period," said Athletics Kenya president, Jack Tuwei.
He renewed a call for athletes to reach out to the federation for assistance with mental health or domestic issues.
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