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The number of Kenyan athletes being banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is worrying.
The latest entrants to the AIU long list of shame are Kenyan road racer Mark Kangogo, marathoner Philemon Kacheran and Chicago and Boston marathon winner Lawrence Cherono.
Kangongo, the 2014 Pozna Half Marathon champion is stated by the AIU to have had presence of banned substances; Norandrosterone and Triamcinolone acetonide in his samples while Kacheran tested positive for excess levels of testosterone.
The rate at which Kenyan athletes are nabbed for violating AIU and the World Anti-Doping Agency rules has irked former Olympic men's 800m champion Wilfred Bungei who has come out to condemn the behaviour in the strongest terms possible.
"My advice to the upcoming athletes is to be consistent with their training, they should strive to build their brand over time," Bungei told Standard Sports.
"It is this consistency and honesty that has taken world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge to the lofty heights he is now."
Bungei has told the current athletes to desist from the urge of making quick money, saying there are no shortcuts to victories in athletics as one day they'll pay for their offences dearly.
"They should know that success is built over time, as we have seen with Kipchoge. I urge them to kindly follow the stairs, not the elevators," said Bungei.
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"Personally, it took me ten years of hard work, training and determination to win an Olympic gold in 2008."
The former World Indoor Championships winner suggests harsh penalties for anti-doping violators by the Kenyan government.
He says doping should be criminalised, stating that it took athletes of his generation sweat and blood to bring the medals home.
"The current athletes are very selfish, they want quick success, they want an easy life with plenty of money, they want to become famous in a short period of time," said Bungei.
"They look for short cuts hoping they will not be caught. They should know we strived to take this country far, they cannot afford to take it backward due to personal greed and the urge to make quick money."
The former World Championships silver medallist warns that a ban for Kenya will bring shame to the country.
He says this might affect former athletes who might be implicated for reasons they do not know despite their hard training and winning medals clean.
"If doping is criminalised, Kenyan athletes will be aware that jail awaits them, they will be in the know that there are heavy penalties waiting for the violation of the rules," Bungei underlined.
Bungei is also of the opinion that dopers should be banned for life from athletics, saying prohibiting them from the sport for a year or two is not enough.
"When you suspend them for a short period, they will always come back and repeat the same crime," he said.
"We have seen this happen with some of our local athletes."
Apart from the doping menace that has engulfed the country, Bungei is also suggesting that Kenya should look for ways to promote women's middle and long distance running.
He says the country has not been consistent in 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase since the era of Pamela Jelimo and Janeth Jepkosgei.
"Majority of women have been pushed to the marathons, women should know that for them to establish a long term career in athletics they should maintain their participation in the tracks," he said.
"They should venture into marathons after a certain age."
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