AK to meet athletes’ agents ahead of trials

What you need to know:

  • Meanwhile, the championships’ Local Organizing Committee chairman Abraham Mutai said the first team will arrive Friday morning as other teams are expected during the day.
  • “The first team, which is Coast Region, is expected to arrive on Thursday morning because they come from far. The other teams will arrive during the day where they will head to Hill School for accreditation and accommodation,” said Mutai.

Athletics Kenya (AK) will hold a meeting with athletes’ representatives where a total of 48 managers are expected at the Noble Hotel in Eldoret on Friday.

The agenda of the meeting, held once every two years, features athletes’ contracts, anti-doping matters and AK’s calendar of events for 2019 among other issues.

AK President Jack Tuwei said they will also explore how the agents and managers handle athletes when they are not competing in national events.

“The meeting, which is organized every two years, will help us know and understand the agents and managers who are handling our athletes, and if they have any questions regarding our federation,” said Tuwei.

The ugly doping issue will also be discussed as the federation seeks ways to end the menace which has bedevilled the country with a number of athletes banned for two to eight years recently for using performance enhancing substances.

“The doping issue will also be discussed as we seek to seal the loose ends that leads an athlete using banned substances and this will be a good opportunity to discuss with those who manage the sportsmen and women of this country,” said the president.

This will be followed by athletes’ education day in conjunction with Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) on Friday.

More than 400 athletes, who will compete at the National Cross Country Championships to be held at the Eldoret Sports Club on Saturday, are expected to attend.

“We have invited a number of athletes to the anti-doping seminar at the Noble Hotel on Friday, including elites who are not participating in the cross country event.

“We are trying to reach a good number of them so that they can warn those who are still thinking of using drugs to enhance their performance,” said Tuwei.

After the seminar, the athletes and officials will head to the unveiling of an athletes’ statue built by Mediheal Hospital — which is owned by Kesses Member of Parliament Swarup Mishra — at the junction of Nairobi and Kaptagat roads in Eldoret.

“We shall unveil the statue which was built by one of our supporter, Mediheal. The statue represents all the athletes and we want to thank those who came up with the idea because it shows that you are entering an athletics hub,” added Tuwei.

Meanwhile, the championships’ Local Organizing Committee chairman Abraham Mutai said the first team will arrive Friday morning as other teams are expected during the day.

“The first team, which is Coast Region, is expected to arrive on Thursday morning because they come from far. The other teams will arrive during the day where they will head to Hill School for accreditation and accommodation,” said Mutai.