Kenya released Qatar's 3,000 metres steeplechase world champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen yesterday after he had been detained for using a wrong entry pass into his country of birth.

Shaheen, born Stephen Che-rono, was detained at the Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi on Tuesday on arrival from Athens where he won the World Cup steeplechase and 5,000 gold for Asia.

An Immigration officer said he had not used a visa but a pupil's pass which allows foreigners to study in the east African country.

Shaheen said he had pointed out the wrong pass to officers several times when using it before and been assured there would be no problem. "When I brought this matter to their attention, they locked me in," he said.

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