This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
Kenyan athletes have been warned against the dangers of doping, with Athletes Kenya president Jackson Tuwei stating that it's a career-ending vice.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the 2019 Eldoret Marathon, Tuwei emphasized the importance of maintaining high levels of integrity in athletics.
His remarks come after the suspension of 2014 Commonwealth Games 10,000m gold medalist Joyce Chepkirui and 2014 Valencia Marathon champion Jacob Kibet Kendagor for doping, a move that has dealt a significant blow to the fight against doping in Kenya.
Kenya remains under Category 'A' of countries under IAAF watch list, and Tuwei confirmed that the AK, in conjunction with the Anti-Doping Agency, has embarked on sensitization measures to educate athletes on the dangers of doping.
“We have been talking about this for a long time, though the number has reduced. The problem is that the athletes still do not want to be honest, the federation will not stop until we end this, and we are still going to put up measures to end this menace that will greatly affect Kenya’s athletics,” Tuwei told Citizen Digital in an interview.
He assured Kenyans that athletes who have been suspended for doping will not be able to represent the country again in the coming years.
“These drugs will not only kill our sports but it destroys the body and it will also destroy our name outside there, let’s advise those who have not been affected and teach them the dangers of using such drugs,” noted Tuwei.
