AK faulted for delay in punishing athletes named for doping

More questions have emerged over Athletics Kenya's delay to suspend eight Kenyan athletes found to have doped by world athletics governing body, IAAF.

On Tuesday, AK issued a ban to those who failed drug tests almost two years ago and awarded suspensions that stretches from six months to four years, raising queries on the delays.

Barnaba Korir, the AK executive member, questioned why athletes whom IAAF notified AK of their dope tests were allowed to compete for nearly a season.

"These are just cover-up measures. They (AK) are simply rising up to reality after Sports Cabinet Secretary issued ultimatum. Some of these athletes were found positive nearly two years ago and AK have been sitting on the reports from IAAF," said Korir, the Nairobi branch AK chairman.

Runner-up at the 2012 Prague International Marathon Flomena Chepchirchir, 2011 Standard Chartered Marathon 21km winner Elizabeth Chelagat and the 2014 Calgary Marathoner Emily Chepkorir were each slapped two-year bans.

Philip Kandie, Julius Mutai, Stephen Tanui, James Nyankabaria also suffer two-year bans. But Alice Ndirangu, who had earlier served a two-year ban, was handed a four-year ban.

"How could they wait for two years to act. These are old casualties and I am sure AK still have some others they are sitting on," said Korir.

"I AAF has never banned any country that takes bold step to curb drugs," said Korir.

He said athlete Alice Kimetto's report reached AK in January 2014 but was suspended in November, last year.

AK President Isaiah Kiplagat said: "The eight athletes were old cases banned by AK and submitted to IAAF in the normal way of publication."