Cherargei calls for probe into ban of 22 athletes over doping

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei. [File, Standard]

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has termed the recent expose by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) in which 22 athletes have been banned for doping as very worrying given that the country is a renowned bastion of athletic prowess.

Cherargei who addressed Journalists at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, yesterday called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and the Directorate of Public Prosecution to look at the ADAK report and institute necessary legal measures to protect the integrity of the country as a sporting nation.

The senator said that the Ministry of Sports, Athletics Kenya, and ADAK should carry out mass sensitization on anti-doping saying that corruption in sports bodies in the country give room for illegal business that is likely to destroy athletes' career.

"The approval of coaches, managers, agents, and other athletes' trainers looks like it is done without a proper background check, the Ministry of Sports must tell the country the mechanisms it has put in place to ensure that our athletes do not become an easy target," said Cherargei.

He called for the inclusion of athletes in capacity building and training on the dangers of doping and its effects with the training camps, coaches, trainers, and other athlete handlers trained on anti-doping rules and regulations to ensure they are well informed.

Cherargei further said that athlete managers and handlers should undergo vetting in the next 14 days to ensure they are qualified and urged sports personalities to be vigilant against conspiracies that are aimed at ending their careers.

The senator asked the Ministry of Health to suspend medical staff, pharmacies, and hospitals who aid the vice pending investigation including procurement and sale of the commonly abused drugs namely triamcinolone acetonide and norandrosterone.

"Parliament will push for radical changes to the sports act, ADAK act, and also other relevant laws to fight this cancerous vice, this proposal includes making aiding and abetting the vice becoming criminal and economic crime," said Cherargey.