Kenyans face new doping hurdles

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Any athlete hoping to take part in the forthcoming World Championships in August must comply with a new set of rules directed at Kenyans.

The country has faced a stream of allegations on doping violations in the recent past and is still on the IAAF doping watch list.

In the latest attempt to ensure that Kenya sends out a clean squad to London, Athletics Kenya (AK) and the country’s anti-doping watchdog — the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) — have been given a set of rules and regulations for the runners who will want to compete in London.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and IAAF directed that Kenyan athletes undergo three out-of-competition doping tests, at least one blood test, two in-competition tests, and seminars on doping to be carried out by AK and ADAK.

Athletes found guilty of non-compliance will be barred from travelling with the team.

ADAK Chief Executive Officer Jasper Rugut said everything was in order and if any athlete encounters challenges, they will be addressed when the team reports for its residential camp on July 9.

“We have covered almost everything and where we encountered slight challenges — for instance where the athletes were competing in Diamond League meetings across Europe and some in Japan — we will bridge them while the athletes are in camp,” said Rugut.

He added: “We had organised several seminars in Eldoret and Nairobi, so athletes had a chance to attend at least two and we will conduct more seminars during the three-week camp to ensure that everyone is on board before heading to London.”

A statement from AK, the governing body, urged athletes who were selected at the national trials to uphold their ‘whereabouts’ programme to ensure that they abide by the rules or risk being barred from competing.

“We are committed to ensuring that we meet all the IAAF requirements and also that our athletes run clean,” the AK senior vice president in charge of competitions, the statement signed by Paul Mutwii said.

He added: “We cannot afford to send athletes who have not met the requirements. They will be either replaced or the slot forfeited in areas where we have few qualified athletes. Athletes are reminded to ensure compliance”

At the same time, world javelin champion Julius Yego has asked the stakeholders involved in the anti-doping campaign to take it seriously.

“Kenya is still on the watch list. That’s something we must take seriously — athletes, the Sports ministry, ADAK. We must all get involved to make the sport clean. No blame game,” said Yego.