World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe has stated that Kenya faces a “long journey” to combat the doping crisis that has engulfed many Kenyan athletes.
Three Kenyan athletes were banned for eight years in December after violating anti-doping rules.
Marathon runners Alice Jepkemboi Kimutai and Johnstone Kibet Maiyo were banned for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), and sprinter Mark Otieno was banned for two years.
Despite having 55 athletes on suspension, the east African country avoided sanction by World Athletics in November 2022 after committing to spend $25 million (£20 million) on anti-doping measures over the next five years.
Stopping doping, according to Mr. Coe, is a long-term commitment: “We should not kid ourselves that this will be accomplished overnight.”
PRESIDENT RUTO: WE WILL END DOPING
Kenya will not spare any efforts in the fight against doping.
President @WilliamsRuto said the Government will go an extra mile in protecting the integrity of athletics. pic.twitter.com/G4UPQwxOEm
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) January 5, 2023
Kenya’s Sports Minister, Ababu Namwamba, announced last year that the government intended to criminalize doping in athletics in an effort to put an end to a string of cases in the sport.
“I’ve always said that I’d rather have the short-term embarrassment of a positive test than the long-term decline and reputational damage of a sport both locally and internationally,” Mr. Coe continued.
Kenya will not spare any efforts in the fight against doping, according to President William Ruto’s office.
It also stated that funding would be allocated to combat doping: “The Government has set aside Sh3.7 billion [$30 million; £25 million] to aid in the fight against doping over the next five years.”
