Authorities ramp up anti-doping efforts as Kenya fights to restore its global reputation. Source image: log10
(The Post News)- Kenyan athletes vying for a spot at this summer’s World Championships in Tokyo must undergo three rounds of drug testing to be eligible for selection. Athletics Kenya (AK) announced the decision on Wednesday, reinforcing its commitment to tackling doping scandals that have plagued the country’s track and field reputation.
AK president Jackson Tuwei revealed that 444 contenders have been identified for the testing programme, which will be conducted in partnership with both national and global anti-doping agencies. He emphasised that strict monitoring procedures, introduced before the Paris Olympics, will continue to ensure fair competition at the event scheduled from 13 to 21 September.
“Testing will take place both during competitions and at random outside of events,” Tuwei stated. He further warned that any failure to adhere to sample collection protocols or missing a test would impact an athlete’s eligibility.
Kenya has made significant financial and regulatory efforts to repair its image after a series of doping cases surrounding the 2016 Rio Olympics led to non-compliance status from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Since 2017, nearly 130 Kenyan long-distance runners have been sanctioned for doping violations, highlighting the scale of the issue.
The crackdown intensified in March when former half-marathon world record holder Kibiwott Kandie was provisionally suspended for allegedly avoiding or refusing to submit a sample. Despite Kenya’s government committing $25 million over five years to combat doping, the country remains under WADA’s highest-risk category.
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli recently expressed ongoing concerns about Kenya’s doping cases, stating that the country has remained a focal point for several years. However, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who visited Kenya earlier this month, acknowledged the progress made in cleaning up the sport.
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