Singaporean runner Keane Ko steals sneakers and cones from Decathlon
A 26-year-old Singaporean athlete faces potential prison time following accusations of shoplifting from a major sports retailer, CNA reports. Despite having no known prior criminal record, Keane Ko Wen Qiang is currently navigating judicial proceedings regarding property crimes.
Authorities assert the national distance runner misappropriated KD900X footwear priced at $110 in July 2025. He allegedly returned to the same Kallang commercial outlet in September to take $25 worth of practice markers. Following an initial docket appearance on July 1, the defendant must attend a subsequent hearing scheduled for October 2.
Under domestic statutes governing theft within a dwelling, penalties for a conviction might include a financial penalty alongside a maximum prison term of 84 months.
Athletic ambitions and global precedents
Prior to these legal challenges, Keane Ko carved out a notable sporting career. His athletic portfolio includes representing his home nation at the 2023 global road racing championships, where he crossed the half-marathon finish line in roughly 81 minutes. He subsequently clinched silver during the ensuing year’s domestic championship event.
Press coverage highlighted his relocation to Slovenia towards the end of 2025 to pursue remote digital commerce roles. From his base overseas, he expressed clear intentions to rewrite local history books by establishing fresh benchmarks across three endurance disciplines: the marathon, the 3,000-metre steeplechase and the flat 3,000-metre track event.
While unusual for local track stars, retail theft charges have snared prominent competitors before. In August 2025, Singapore police arrested Italian world champion swimmer Benedetta Pilato and teammate Chiara Tarantino for stealing cosmetics from an airport duty-free store. The incident resulted in a 90-day suspension from their national swimming federation.
