By Feverpitch Reporter
A new storm is brewing within the Kenyan athletics fraternity after an athlete, who finished in a respectable position at the Standard Chartered Nairobi International Marathon last October, failed a dope test.
The athlete has been informed, but Athletics Kenya (AK) won’t reveal the name, which we are keeping confidential for legal reasons.
“Yes, we have an athlete who failed a dope test at the Nairobi International Marathon, but we are following procedures first throughout due process,” said an AK official, who did not want to be named.
“The athlete must bring the defence first to argue the case. The athlete may request B sample to be tested or just admit culpability and serve the sanctions. We are waiting,” said the official.
He said the sample was tested in South Africa.
“We shall go public once we confirm the allegation,” he said.
World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey visited Kenya last year and held talks with top ranking Government officials, including Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba.
The anti- doping czar said Kenya is an important nation because of its many world-class athletes.
His visit followed reports by a German television station that there was widespread doping in Kenya.
Mathew Kisorio, a former long distance runner, is among the athletes who gave interviews confessing doping. Kisorio failed dope test during last year’s National Championships.
Some athletes told the German television where they bought banned performance-enhancing substances. But AK denied knowledge of doping in Kenya and urged the Government to conduct investigations.
