By Erick Ochieng’
The Government has formed a task force to look into the spates of doping scandals that have rocked the country recently especially in athletics.
Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch said the task force, made up of people of integrity, starts work next week and will leave no stone unturned.
Oluoch said the budget has been approved and once they get the money the task force will hit the ground running.
Oluoch who explained the reason as to why the Kenya Anti Doping Agency (Kada) has not carried out any fruitful research so far since the scandal was broken said: “Kada has been inactive due to absence of legal frameworks that should enhance its operations, it also lacked money to jumpstart its operations, but I can assure you that Kada officials will hit the ground working by next week.”
National Olympic Committee-Kenya treasurer, Stephen Soi has praised the newly established Sports Act saying it strengthens Kada and gives it the mandate to fight, educate and carry out random test as required by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
Kenya’s image on doping has taken a beating internationally following a German journalist Hajo Seppelt, of TV ARD, revelation that some of the country’s world beaters were purchasing and using banned anaerobic drugs including blood booster EPO from various clinics in Nairobi, Eldoret and Kapsabet.
Kenya has already unveiled six doping control officers who will undergo thorough anti doping training at a four day Africa Zone Five workshop that the country will be hosting in Nairobi as from tomorrow.
The high level training that will also be attended by other nine top officials from Africa is expected to equip Kenya with adequate officers. Kenya has been surviving with only one qualified doping control officer after one passed on sometimes back.
