Athletics Kenya, athletes and athletic fans will be waiting patiently when World Athletics (WA) and Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) will be making an announcement whether Kenya will be struck off from competing in international events next season due to rampant doping cases reported by Kenyan runners.
With alarming doping cases reported in the country with top brass athletes, from track to field and road running, the country may face suspension or a ban for a period of time in order to put their house in order.
Our source, on anonymity request told Athletics.co.ke said: “ From the look of things its just a matter of when, because where we are now is at a danger zone. We may be suspended by AIU this year and this week might be the much awaited announcement. We pray that we be given time because of the efforts we and the Govrnment have put in to fight this menance,” he said.
He said that there are many top elite athletes that AIU is on their radar and soon they will be unmasked and this will be the end of their running careers.
“Many athletes and the country at large will be affected and it will be an expensive affair that will cost jobs and many lives will be affected directly and indirectly,” he said.
This year alone the country has had 17 athletes sanctioned by AIU for a range of doping violations with eight athletes currently on provisional suspensions, with the outcomes of their cases pending.
The newly appointed cabinet secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, Ababu Namwamba, has been vocal on the intentions that government is going to take in the fight against the doping menace, “We are going to criminalise doping to levels you cannot imagine. We are going to be very, very harsh.
Ten Kenya athletes have tested positive since last year, for a banned substance called triamcinolone Acetonide, while two others from other nations tested positive for the same substance.
“It is a synthetic corticosteroid medication administered through injection into joints to treat various joint conditions. It is also used topically to treat various skin conditions, such as relieving the discomfort of mouth sores,” he said.
Senate majority leader Aron Cheruiyot is proposing a stringent measure to curb doping menace in the country to ensure that Kenyans run clean and regain the global reputation the country has been enjoying.
“Doping is one of the biggest issues that the new CS has to deal with, the fact that we reach a point where all our athletes will be screened more thoroughly than anybody else in the world. It is very terrible because it means that the glory that Kenya has enjoyed will be put in question and doubt because the world will see us as good at doping. That is really unfortunate,” said Cheruiyot.
The late Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat in 2015, suspended Rosa Associati management stable run by Dr. Gabrielle Rosa and Gerard Van de Veen of Volare Sports.
Athletes who have been banned at Rosa stable include, three-time Boston marathon winner Rita Jeptoo, two-time world champion Asbel Kiprop and the 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong while at Volare Sports include Wilson Kipsang.
He said that the CS should also take on the agents in the country who are misleading young athletes by trying to show them the easier way into the global stage yet it is known that there are no easier routes to success and one has to sweat it out.
“As a country, we must re-register afresh these agents. Those that have been found to have athletes that have doped must be banned from this country because those are the people responsible for the mess that we find ourselves in,” he said.
Facebook Comments