By Chris Musumba and Philip Orwa
Government will launch committee to Investigate doping cases in the country The Government will name a committee to carry out independent investigation over allegations by ARD German TV that doping is widespread in the country.
Athletics Kenya Chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said plans are afoot to launch required investigation on the issue. He said the delay in the investigation was not deliberate but because AK had handed over the matter to the Government, who have the machinery to carry it out effectively.
“It will be an independent committee and we have no idea on who will sit on it. What I know is only one doctor from AK team, Victor Bargoria, will be seconded to the committee.
“It is purely a Government assignment and we will wait for its outcome to know what to do next,” said Kiplagat.
The cost implications involved in carrying out dope tests after every event are immense and have hindered the blanket rollout of the exercise in all athletics competitions.
Kiplagat, a member of the IAAF Council, said it costs about Sh500,000 to carry out tests and send them to South Africa, where the only accredited medical laboratory in the continent is based.
New centre
“We are in negotiation with IAAF to open up a new laboratory in Nairobi. IAAF is looking at ways to licence Kemri Laboratories as a certified centre sanctioned to carry such tests. But for the time being, we only have one place in the entire continent, in South Africa,” he said.
After ARD German TV aired the news quoting elite athletes and coaches, IAAF medical director Gabrielle Dolle admitted that Kenya
‘lacks technical pre-conditions for a systematic and effective testing of athletes’ blood samples and therefore doping cannot be ruled out.
This prompted AK to introduce mandatory antidoping campaign in all major races in the country.
