RUGBY PLAYERS CLEAN: KRU says Anti-Doping Task Force got facts wrong, as food supplements are legal

Kenyan team huddle before the Sevens World Series game against American Samoa in Gold Coast on October 11, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK HAMILTON

Kenya’s rugby players do not use banned food products, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has said. KRU Chairman Mwangi Muthee said in a statement the Anti-Doping Task Force report, led by Prof Moni Wekesa Committee, “aims at filling everyone with consternation.”

KRU challenged the Government to interrogate members of the committee which alleged that Kenyan sportsmen, among them national rugby team players, used illegal food supplements.

“KRU is shocked by Press reports alluding that, in the first place, it is illegal to use nutritional supplements.”

FAILED TEST

The Union said only one player, in 10 years, and as far back as in 2005, had failed an anti-doping test. The KRU said the international rugby players, who play up to nine months in a year around the world, are tested by standards set by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Rugby Board (IRB) and none had failed since 2005. Muthee said yesterday there was no WADA-approved agency in Kenya and a recent local “Anti-Doping Taskforce” committee assembled had “cobbled together fallacious information from familiar players of local sports politics wishing to score points for their own agenda.”

Muthee, who was out of the country, sent a brief message to Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario saying:

 

SHODDY WORK

“(Mr Minister) Waziri, this is a shoddy and misinformed work... Our game is unfairly tarnished beyond repair and some Kenyans are now liable to litigation because of the Press publication of ‘absolute rubbish and untruth’. This exercise was a search for cheap publicity which it has achieved.”

KRU, while supporting the establishment of a Kenyan Anti-Doping Agency which the Government says will be enacted with proper legislation by January 1, 2016, said they strongly questioned “the ethical foundation of the Wekesa committee war on doping.

“Its so-called findings consist of largely unsubstantiated assumptions, dubious claims and sources within sports associations whose integrity can be challenged,” the KRU chairman said.

Muthee said it would take the Cabinet Secretary’s “quick steps to repair the terrible damage caused by careless statements and wild allegations made by the Wekesa report”.

Muthee said the modern Kenya rugby athlete differs enormously from the past with regard to his/her access to care, supervision, and a high quality medical and technological environment.

He wondered whether the Wekesa committee members, as they caused to be reported in media, believe that use of food supplements is illegal; that they are banned by WADA or the IRB?

“Is the Wekesa committee aware that all top rugby players, and indeed athletes from other disciplines in the world use nutrition supplements so long as they do not contain substances banned by WADA?” he asked.

 

INTRODUCED SUPPLEMENTS

“Mike Friday (former England, now USA coach) introduced “USN” nutrition supplements; are they illegal? None of his Kenya Sevens players failed anti-doping tests,” he said.

“Jerome Paarwater (South African), Kenya XVs head coach introduced “Evox” nutrition supplements, products of and widely used in South Africa. Kenya players were tested under IRB regulations during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Africa qualifications in Madagascar. None player failed.

“Paul Treu (SA) current Kenya Sevens Performance Director and Head Coach introduced the “Future Life” meal replacement food products of South Africa. Wekesa committee says they are aware 24 players were tested out of competition in 2013 and 12 during competition and that the tests were done in collaboration with IRB. Were there any positive tests?

“The “USN”, “Evox” and “Future Life” food supplements are well known food supplements in the world used by sports people. The manufacturers label the nutritional and pharmacological contents of these products.

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