ADAK pushed to Enhance Anti-doping knowledge to locals

As the country grapples over the shocking disclosure of Doping by Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong, who tested positive for EPO, in an out-of-competition test, now Athletics stakeholders are calling for The Anti-doping association of Kenya (ADAK), Athletics Kenya and the Ministry of sports to roll out the anti-doping campaign to rural areas and empower the locals to aid in curbing the menace.

Speaking in Nakuru town, Athletics Kenya Central Rift Branch Chairman, Barnabas Kitilit says ADAK, needs to shift focus from carrying road shows in big towns and focus on training Camps to sensitize the athletes and empower the locals who can help the government and the agencies in reporting any misconduct of the athletes as well as those who engage in doping practices.

“Let the agencies move to the ground and engage the communities around, enhance anti-doping campaigns because the ordinary people can help much in pointing out some of the malpractices being done in the neighbourhood and help ADAK track the culprits tarnishing the image of the country:, he said.

Kitilit further took a swipe on the growing trend of spouses coaching each other adding that any slight fall in their form may breed a ground to compromise the standards and ethical establishments in the athletics management.

“It is a worrying trend, much as we don’t chastise the athletes who marry each other, the scenario where a spouse trains his or her spouse is creating a worrying trend especially where the other athletes are doing well, they get alot of pressure to perform hence may compromise their coaching and training ethics”:, he added.

Doping issues has lately tarnished the image of Kenya, a country that has for a long time become athletics powerhouse in Africa and the world, situation that nearly led to the banning of the country in 2016 after it initially failed to pass legislation on anti-doping framework.

By Kiprotich Kimetto