Rado, AK stage anti-doping seminar in Kapsabet

As the dust settles on the doping scourge, Kenyan athletics stakeholders have begun aggressive campaigns to stem the tide.

Yesterday, more than 200 participants among 14 elite athletes and coaches as well as foreign track and field agents attended anti-doping seminar dubbed “Run Clean” at Eden Springs Hotel in Kapsabet.

But some of the runners who have failed doping tests who were invited by the Africa Zone V Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (Rado) and Athletics Kenya officials did not show up in the day-long seminar.

The campaign was convened to raise awareness among athletes and coaches on doping in accordance to World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code to help reduce the spiralling cases of doping in Kenya.

“We want to increase literacy levels among stakeholders to curb the vice and save the image of Kenyan athletics. The role of Rado is to ensure increased focus on prevention and value-based education to establish a safe and healthy environment,” said Christine Mugera, the executive manager of Rado.

Through the Anti-Doping education seminar, which is the core of Drug Free Sport, Mugera said, there are prevention programs directed towards athletes and support personnel with a particular focus on young people right from school curriculum.

Present were Berlin Marathon winner Eliud Kipchoge, New York Marathon winner Stanley Biwott, 2008 Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo, 2011 London Marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai, 2013 world 3,000m steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos, two-time world marathon champion Abel Kirui, former London Marathon winner Prisca Jeptoo, Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion Mercy Cherono and 2007 world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei.