Anti-drugs agency launches public campaign

Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya has launched a public campaign to educate athletes on dangers of doping on their socio-economic life.

ADAK officially launched the campaign that will also target the Kenya Secondary Scools Sports Associations and other sporting disciplines during the national Cross Country Championships at the Uhuru Gardens yesterday.

Director of Anti-Doping Education and Research Agnes Wanjiku Mandu said most of their outreach has been more private but this year they will use other channels to reach to the sport people across the country.

“We will do roadshows during major sports events to reach out not only to the athletes but also the sports lovers,” Mandu said.

“But beyond that we will use the power of the social media, print and electronic media and also the digital media to reach everybody,” she added.

Mandu said many sportspeople are still ignorant about doping issues and thus it is important that they are educated.

“We cannot reach all of them at an interpersonal level, but through the power of the media we will be able to get to them.”

“Some of the key areas we want to ensure we communicate to them include the anti-doping rules and violations. They need to know that it is not just about testing positive that puts one in problems but also refusing to do the tests or tampering with the results or testing equipment,” she said.

She said they are also sensitising sportsmen not to get culture shock when they are called in for tests.

ADAK is already working with schools and developing a curriculum for schools.