Kass to educate athletes on dangers of doping

By  KEVIN TUNOI  and JONATHAN KOMEN

Athletes in action during a past Kass Marathon. [PHOTO:PETER OCHIENG’/STANDARD]

The Kass Marathon organisers and Athletics Kenya will conduct workshops on doping awareness among athletes.

They will hold two workshops in Rift Valley next year to sensitise local athletes on  dangers and effects of using banned substances and performance enhancing drugs.

The move comes against a backdrop of doping claims against Kenya by the World Anti Doping Agency.

Kass Media Group CEO Julius Lamaon said it was unfortunate that North Rift, which stands out as the Mecca of world athletics, has no doping test laboratories yet it has the highest number of athletes on earth.

“It is a big shame that North Rift region has a huge number of athletes yet there are no labs to conduct tests,” he said.

In the past Kass Marathons editions, Lamaon said athletes’ samples were taken to South Africa for tests that resulted in long delays in awarding winners their prizes.

health checks

And the 2013 edition, which is lined up for Sunday next week along Kapsabet-Eldoret Road, will be marked with cutting edge health checks and medicare.

 “There will be free public health course done by sponsors and local hospitals who have come on board. We will also conduct sensitisation workshops for athletes on issues relating to doping.”

Lamaon said they will soon introduce appearance fees in Kass Marathon for athletes with sub 2:05 marks in the 42km race.

appearance fees

 “We and our partners are planning to introduce appearance fees for athletes who have posted 2:05 marks in marathon to raise competition standards,” he said.

Millions of fans will follow the action live on KTN, which will stream the event live.

The race will be staged for the first time since the devolved county government units were established and will twin Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties; thus making it an inter-city race.

The Kass race – which rides on a unique blend and history – now runs shows across the globe, with most athletics stakeholders taking a keen interest.

The race sponsors include Trans National Bank, Safaricom, New KCC, Advest, Jamii Telecoms Brookside Dairies Lap Trust and Amaco Insurance, The Standard Group, Medi-Heal Group of hospitals, St.Luke’s Orthopaedic, Trauma Center among others.

Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago said there will be enough security before, during and after the race.

Mandago said the security teams from around the region will join forces to ensure the showpiece runs smoothly.

He said anti-stock theft, regular and administration police units will be on the ground.

 “The marathon route will be closed from as early as 6am to 11am to ensure the race is  run without any interruptions,” he said. —[email protected]