Wario, AK boss fault timing of doping reports

The Government and Athletics Kenya have urged Team Kenya athletes not to let recent allegations of doping cloud their preparations for the 2016 Olympics.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario on Tuesday said unsubstantiated reports aired by German broadcaster ARD and published by The Sunday Times on concerning doping in Kenya are meant to dent Kenya’s image as a great sporting national beside dampen the spirits of the team.

Athletics Kenya President, Lieutenant General (rtd) Jackson Tuwei has also said the documentary had ulterior motive just coming at a time Team Kenya was camping in Eldoret ahead of the Rio Olympic Games due August 6 to 21 in Brazil.

Wario wondered why sustained doping allegations only came when Kenya had selected teams for major championships like the Olympics and World Championships in athletics.

“We urge our great athletes to continue preparing for the upcoming Olympics without fear and hope that World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) does not let this incident cloud its judgment on Kenya’s state of compliance,” said Wario.

Wario noted that the latest allegations of doping come at a time when Kenya has duly fulfilled all requirements set by Wada in readiness for certification as a doping-free country.

However, Wario said the Government was taking the allegations seriously and called on United Kingdom Anti-Doping (Ukad) to investigate British athletes who featured in the documentary aired on Sunday by ARD and an the article published by Sunday Times.

WIDESPREAD DOPING

The documentary and the article alleged that some Kenyan athletes and their British counterparts engaged in widespread doping with the help of doctors in Eldoret.

“We have taken immediate steps to investigate both the doping allegations and the authenticity of the report made against the sporting fraternity,” said Wario.

“As a nation renowned for our sporting prowess, we will pursuit these allegations to their logical conclusion and take action on anyone found culpable.”

Wario said the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) through the Africa Zone Five Regional Anti-doping Agency (Rado) have tested over 230 Kenyan athletes.

“These athletes will form the Team Kenya contingent that will travel to Rio for the Olympics,” said Wario, adding that Kenya has continued to subject her athletes to the rigorous testing regime both locally and by independent accredited international officers.

Tuwei said it’s not by coincidence that the allegations were cropping up when Team Kenya is in camp.

“The same people came with such allegations when we were about to leave for 2012 London Olympics and 2013 Moscow and 2014 Beijing World Championships,” said Tuwei.

“We have nothing to hide, having given the IAAF and IOC unlimited access to athletes and facilities for purposes of testing to ensure that our nation is free from doping.”

Already, the doctors Samson Limo and Ken Kipchumba, who featured in the documentary administering doping to some Kenyan and British athletes, were charged in court last weekend and detained for 10 days to enable police complete investigations. The doctors operates from St Luke’s Orthopedic and Trauma Hospital in Eldoret.

Doping is said to have also administered to the athletes at a High Altitude Performance Training Centre (HATC) owned by Lorna Kiplagat’s husband Pieter Langerhorst in Iten where Erythropoietin (Epo) syringes are said to have been found in dustbins.

Langerhorst has already distanced his facility from the doping allegations with athlete Fred Nkoyon, who featured in the documentary saying he was duped and was not aware those investigating were filming for doping documentary.

Among the athletes who have in the past trained the (HATC) are Double Olympic and World champion (10,000m, 5,000m) Mo Farah and World marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe.

Last week, athletes manager Federico Rosa of Rosa and Associati and athletes coach Claudio Berardellli were detained and charged in court over doping allegations.