Nock boss says athletes will receive blood tests results today

PS Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts Richard Ekai, centre, officiate partnership between National Olympic Kenya represented by Kipchoge Keino, right, and Auka Gacheo General Manager SuperSport East Africa as official Broadcaster Rio 2016 in Nairobi on Tuesday 26, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Rio Olympics-bound athletes currently in camp in Eldoret should expect results of their blood samples from today.

This was announced by National Olympic Committee-Kenya (Noc-k) in Nairobi yesterday.

Noc-k chairman Kipchoge Keino said the results of the tests being done at the camp by World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) personnel will be available as from today.

“Wada sent a contingent that has been taking samples from the athletes, they have already tested the athletes thrice and we are hopeful for an encouraging outcome,” said Keino.

Keino also said Nock officials will be in Eldoret today together with officials from the Kenya Anti-Doping Agency who will educate the athletes on doping issues ahead of their departure for Rio Olympics.

Keino, who assured Kenyans not be worried by the many tests at the camp, said Kenyan athletes have to undergo the numerous tests as the country is a global powerhouse in athletics hence the need to assure the world that the contingent being sent to Brazil is clean.

“As Noc-k we also want to take only naturally talented athletes to Rio, it is also the reason we are advocating for the cleanest team ever at the Olympics,” said Keino.

The Noc-k boss said the team is also being prepared in accordance to the wishes of President Uhuru Kenyatta who advocated for a clean contingent to Rio.

“The team is well prepared and we are hopeful to bag a sizeable number of medals in Rio. We are also grateful to the number of sponsors who have come on board to support our bid for the Olympics,” noted Keino, who graced the occasion where SuperSport donated Sh1 million to Noc-k for Olympics in Nairobi yesterday.

Keino said the money would help in preparing Team Kenya ahead of the Olympics.

“The second batch will depart for Brazil this Sunday, the third batch on August 7 while the last batch consisting of marathoners will leave the country on August 14,” Keino said.

Keino added that Noc-k has been working round the clock to ensure the team is successful in Brazil.

Sports Permanent Secretary Richard Ekai said Brazil has a conducive climate that will spur Kenyan athletes to win even more medals as compared to the 2012 London Olympics.

While handing over the Sh1million sponsorship cheque to Noc-k, SuperSport East Africa General Manager Auka Gacheo said Rio Olympics action would be available on seven SuperSport channels running over 24 hours. “The channels are available in our three bouquets, including premium and compact,” he said.