World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commended Kenya’s advancements in addressing doping issues during his meeting in Nairobi. Kenya has launched a $25 million initiative over five years to tackle doping, increasing resources in testing and education. Coe acknowledged improvements but noted challenges persist from past scandals, with nearly 130 athletes sanctioned since 2017.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed optimism regarding Kenya’s progress in combating doping issues that have impacted its global sports reputation. During his recent meeting with Kenyan officials in Nairobi, Coe acknowledged the significant developments since his last visit in January 2023, remarking on the long journey ahead for the nation.
Kenya has made substantial investments aimed at improving its anti-doping measures, including a $25 million initiative over five years, which emerged after multiple doping scandals linked to the 2016 Rio Olympics. The country has also focused on enhancing its resources by increasing the number of anti-doping personnel, expanding testing, and improving educational efforts surrounding doping awareness.
Coe highlighted the positive trajectory in Kenya’s anti-doping systems, stating, “We are moving in the right direction,” but he also noted that the country is still addressing the ramifications of previous doping issues. Since 2017, almost 130 Kenyan athletes, mostly long-distance runners, have faced sanctions due to doping violations.
In a significant move, Kenya issued its first lifetime ban in June to marathon runner Beatrice Toroitich, while 10km world record-holder Rhonex Kipruto received a six-year ban. Coe stated that although the number of sanctioned athletes might continue to increase, this trend reflects the success of the nation’s enhanced testing protocols.
In summary, Kenya is making commendable efforts in prioritizing anti-doping initiatives, with substantial financial commitments and improvements in testing and education. President Coe’s optimism reflects the positive changes underway, although challenges remain as the country continues to tackle its past doping issues. Enhanced systems are leading to more detections, indicating progress in the fight against doping in sports.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
