Address Olympics complaints

Cabinet Secretary for Sports Hassan Wario

The furore generated by doping claims against Kenyan athletes had hardly died down when it emerged that all was not well within the camp.

This came to light during a meeting between athletes selected to represent Kenya at the Brazil Olympics and the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Hassan Wario at their Eldoret training camp on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of the athletes, team captain Wesley Korir raised a number of pertinent issues, particularly in relation to the availability of training kits, which have not yet been received and the payment of dues to athletes dating as far back as 2011.

It is inconceivable that the Government would give pledges to our sportsmen and women then renege on them almost immediately. Five years spent waiting for monetary rewards does very little to motivate and boost the morale of athletes, yet the best is expected of them.

The doping claims, discontent among athletes and the lack of training kits means we have a team that is not psychologically primed for the best.

Stakeholders Athletics Kenya, the National Olympics Committee and the Government are duty bound to ensure all is well within the training camp. The athletes must not be given an excuse for failure.