AK backs formation of athletes welfare association

AK backs formation of athletes welfare association

Athletics Kenya (AK) is seeking to form an association to cater for Kenyan athletes’ welfare, the national body’s President Jackson Tuwei said Thursday at the Annual Athletes Conference in Eldoret.

Tuwei said the intended association will cater for athletes in terms of medical insurance, savings, pension among other pertinent issues facing the athletes in the country.

According to Tuwei, the athletes are open to engagements before the final resolution is made at the final day of the conference on Saturday.

“On Saturday we must come up with a resolution as AK on how we can assist these athletes in terms of welfare. We want to involve the athletes and we have already invited facilitators on this topic. Whatever they will settle on then we are ready to support them. We have done our research and we are thus giving them an opportunity to give their take as well,” he said.

The AK chief cited previous cases of athletes struggles after retirement as the motivation behind the creation of the body.

While the main conference kicked off on Thursday, Tuwei also hailed the road running athletes who turned up for yesterday’s special event conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on matters doping.

“Yesterday we had a successful engagement with road runners where the AIU officials came to introduce a new programme to the road runners. I am convinced that the road running athletes have now understood their obligations,” said Tuwei.

Tuwei has also warned the Athletes Support Personnel who aid athletes in doping as Kenya remains in category A of the World Athletics watch list on countries with prevalent doping cases.

“One of the main topics we are undertaking here is the doping menace because Kenya still remains on category A of the watchlist and we want to get out of this thing. We are aware that athletes should be responsible however we want to urge all those interested parties who support the athletes to

Apart from doping lessons, athletes are also involved in other courses ranging from investment, team building, media relations and taxation.

The four-day seminar on Thursday attracted track and field athletes after the opening day event that involved road running athletes.

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