This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
On November 3, 2018, Gabriel Mukundi was crowned the Mr Kenya winner at the Nairobi Hospital Convention Centre Auditorium. However, his reign was short-lived as he was later stripped of the title due to a doping scandal.
According to the Kenya Bodybuilding Federation (KBBF), Mukundi tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol, leading to a two-year ban. The federation's chairman, Chris Omedo, handed over the title to the runner-up, George Henry Odhiambo.
Notably, this is not the first doping case in the bodybuilding community. In May 2018, Marvin Mukoswa and Moses Musilwa were banned for two years after testing positive for the prohibited substance Furosemide during the Mr Greater Western championship held at the Agha Khan Hall in Kisumu.
The ban comes after the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) sanctioned several bodybuilders, including former Mr Kenya Michael Obuya, who tested positive for a banned drug and had his ban end last week. Arnold Sanya was also banned for using Cannabinoids, while female bodybuilder Sheetal Kotak was banned for using Norandrosterone and served her ban until January 17 this year.
Chris Omedo emphasized that the federation will continue to advocate for a cleaner sport and will deal with drug cartels and users. He also stated that bodybuilders serving bans will not participate, organize, or associate themselves with training any person until they complete their suspension.
