Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, affirmed his satisfaction with Kenya’s progress in addressing doping issues during a recent visit. Kenya’s commitment includes a $25 million investment to combat doping, resulting in increased testing and educational initiatives. Despite successes, Coe indicated that the number of sanctions might rise due to enhanced testing protocols. He remains optimistic about Kenya’s journey towards compliance and integrity in athletics.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, expressed satisfaction with Kenya’s advancements in combating doping in the sport, an issue that had endangered its reputation. Coe’s recent meeting with Kenyan officials in Nairobi revealed a shift in tone compared to his prior visit in January 2023, where he acknowledged a lengthy battle ahead for improvement.
Kenya has undertaken significant investments to enhance its anti-doping measures, especially following its non-compliance declaration by the World Anti-Doping Agency after drugs scandals around the 2016 Rio Olympics. In April 2023, Kenya allocated $25 million over five years to strengthen its anti-doping efforts.
Coe noted progress in several key areas, such as increased personnel for anti-doping testing, investigations, and educational initiatives. “We are moving in the right direction,” he commented and emphasized the implementation of improved systems, acknowledging the long journey still ahead in the fight against doping.
Since 2017, nearly 130 Kenyan athletes, predominantly long-distance runners, have faced sanctions for drug violations. Notably, Kenya issued its first lifetime ban to marathoner Beatrice Toroitich alongside a six-year ban for record-holder Rhonex Kipruto in June. Coe indicated that while the list of banned athletes may expand, this is indicative of successful testing and compliance protocols.
As a former Olympic champion, Coe is preparing to contend for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Greece later this month, which underlines his commitment to improving sports integrity globally.
In summary, the World Athletics chief, Sebastian Coe, acknowledges Kenya’s strides in tackling doping, highlighting their considerable financial investment and improvements in testing and educational efforts. While the progress is commendable, the ongoing challenges signify a continued commitment to overcoming doping issues in athletics. The monitoring of athletes is critical, as sanctions are likely to increase, reflecting the success of Kenya’s proactive approach.
Original Source: www.france24.com
