Echesa: Doping cheats will be punished

Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid (second left) shares a light moment with boxer Christine Ongare (second right) ) on May 8, 2018 at Nairobi's Intercontinental Hotel. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Among the athletes who face consequences as a result of doping are 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong and marathoner Suleiman Simotwo, who were banned for taking performance-enhancing substances after the 2016 Laws came into act.
  • Doping cheats and their accomplices face up to three years in jail if they fail to pay fines.

Sports cabinet secretary Rashid Echesa Tuesday warned doping cheats that the 2016 Anti-Doping laws will be followed to the letter.

Echesa said those found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs will be punished accordingly to deter future cases.

At the same time, National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) president Paul Tergat warned that the culture of silence and confidentiality surrounding doping will ruin Kenya’s athletics.

Echesa said he will seek audience and proper briefing from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) and Athletics Kenya concerning the state of doping in the country before issuing a detailed statement.

Echesa opted not to comment on the latest doping case involving three times World 1,500 metres champion Asbel Kiprop.

“I don’t want to comment on Kiprop’s case since it’s still being heard at the IAAF Tribunal and I have asked my officers from Adak to give me a report,” said Echesa. “Once I get a proper briefing, I will make an official statement.”

Echesa said the law is clear on the fate of doping cheats. Echesa and Tergat were speaking at Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, where the government rewarded medallists from Gold Coast

Commonwealth Games with a total of Sh12.25 million.

Among the athletes who face consequences as a result of doping are 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong and marathoner Suleiman Simotwo, who were banned for taking performance-enhancing substances after the 2016 Laws came into act.

Doping cheats and their accomplices face up to three years in jail if they fail to pay fines.