This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
As the World Athletics Championships in Doha continue, Kenya's poor showing has sparked murmurs of discontent. However, the Athletics Kenya federation is quick to point out that the country has only lost two events so far: the women's 10,000 meters and the men's 5,000 meters and women's 800m.
According to Athletics Kenya, the main challenge lies in conducting dope tests on the country's 3,000 athletes. This requires $900 per athlete for three out-of-competition tests and one in-competition test, 10 months prior to the championships.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has strict deadlines for these tests, making it a daunting task for Kenya. The government has provided Sh15 million to support the testing drive, but it's a drop in the ocean considering the scale of the challenge.
Athletics Kenya has clarified that the testing of athletes and collection of samples is the prerogative of the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, and the federation only assists in providing the whereabouts of athletes. However, some athletes have been found to be arrogant in their adherence to AIU rules.
As a result, Athletics Kenya plans to use its end-year seminar to educate athletes on the importance of adhering to AIU rules and avoiding scenarios like the one that led to the exclusion of several athletes from participating in the World Championships.
Despite the challenges, Athletics Kenya remains committed to abiding by AIU rules and ensuring zero tolerance for doping. The federation is proud of the country's two gold medals so far and encourages Kenyans to support the team and enjoy the races.
