New drugs crisis hit Kenya ahead of Rio olympics

Kenya is set to be declared in breach of global anti-doping rules, the BBC has learned.

The surprise move will mean some of the world’s top athletes are at risk of missing August’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Kenya, one of the major forces in world athletics, has already missed two World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) deadlines to show it is tackling cheating in sport.

Now Wada was expected to rule the country ‘non-compliant’ when its board met in Montreal yesterday night.

After a series of drugs and corruption scandals, Kenya had been warned to comply with Wada’s rules or face sanctions.

Last month, legislation that created a new national anti-doping agency was passed, with President Uhuru Kenyatta personally driving the new law through.

It was widely assumed the measure would satisfy Wada. However, it can now be revealed that Wada’s compliance committee has recommended that Kenya should be declared in breach of its code.

The Wada board is expected to accept that recommendation. It will now be up to the Interna-tional Olympic Committee (IOC) or sport’s international federations to decide whether to ban Kenyan athletes from the Rio Games or any other competitions. They could come under pressure to do so, amid an unprecedented doping crisis and mounting concern over the country’s lack of action against cheating.

Meanwhile, Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha headlines the second leg of the IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Shanghai, China, today afternoon.

Rudisha, who basks in his 1:40.91 world record mark, will launch his Olympic title defence bid at the Shanghai Stadium against a fairly strong opposition.

He will face challenge from world junior champion Alfred Kipketer and Africa Youth champion Robert Biwott, the two youngsters who are longing to secure bragging rights to the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Kipketer, who has failed to impress since graduating to senior ranks last season, needs to regain his groove he lost after winning the IAAF World Junior Championships gold medal in Eugene, Oregon, in 2014.

Job Kinyor, the prison warder with 1:43.76 all-time best, is also itching for a slice of the glory.

Meanwhile, as he takes his 12:49.04 personal best to the starting line, Olympic 5,000m bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa must summon extra energy to stop 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Edwin Soi (12:51.34) and Augustine Choge (12:53.66) in the 12-lap race.