ADAK to wrap investigations against suspended AK bosses ‘soon’

Investigations into the cases of three suspended top Athletics Kenya officials alleged to have subverted the anti-doping process are at an advanced stage the Anti-Doping Kenyan Agency (ADAK) stated on Tuesday.

AK Deputy President, David Okeyo, former Treasurer, Joseph Kinyua and CEO Isaac Mwangi had their bans by the IAAF Ethics Board extended to facilitate investigations into the claims.

According to ADAK Chief Executive Japhter Rugut, the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) is conducting an independent local investigation into the cases against the accused with every individual’s case at a different stage.

“The cases are going on currently, for issues of capacity, they are being handled by the Directorate of the Criminal Investigations (DCI) working with an officer from this office (ADAK).

“Some of them have already been subjected to the result management process, after finding there was indeed violation of the anti-doping process in line with the anti-doping Act,” Rugut told Citizen Digital.

According to Rugut, the ‘result management process’ is carried out by the Tribunal and several cases are already being looked into, with two already concluded.

“The management process has stages too. We have around 15 cases there with some at the initial mention while others are at conclusion phase. Two are already concluded but I cannot mention which ones,” he explained.

The CEO added that there are cases that are still under investigation by the CID, underscoring the need to have enough facts before instituting prosecution.

“There is indeed a big need to move fast but we don’t want a scenario where we go ahead to prosecute someone without enough information to open the file.

“So far we are doing well because anti-doping mandate goes beyond the cases we are handling into laying down a strong foundation for the institution that will help curb the vice altogether,” he offered.

At the same time, ADAK has expressed its support for the partnership between AK and the Kenya Doctors Network aimed at vetting athletes to clear them of doping before competing internationally.

Rugut said ultimately every federation may end up employing the services of such bodies for the good of the sport but called on them to establish a clear partnership with ADAK and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to avoid loopholes that could cause commotion among the stakeholders.

He was speaking in Nairobi when ADAK signed a renewed agreement with Norway’s Anti-Doping body (ADNO) and WADA to help the country set up sound policies to fight the doping scourge that has seen 52 Kenyan athletes fall victims of the vice.

WADA’s Deputy Director, NADO/RADO Relations Tom May and Rodney Swigelaar, Director Africa Regional Office and ADNO’s Rune Andersen (Special Advisor), Ann Engelstand and Ann Cappelen, both advisors of International relations at the Norway’s authority were present.

National Olympic Committee-Kenya chairman, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, representing International Olympics Committee (IOC) and RADO and ADAK chairman James Waweru were other top officials present.

Okeyo, Kinyua as well as the late federation president, Isaiah Kiplagat were suspended by the Ethics Board in December 2015 with Mwangi following suit in February last year.

The IAAF appointed lawyer Sharad Rao to lead the investigations against the quartet while extending their suspensions when he said the probe was yet to be completed.