AK blasts Nock over Team Kenya Rio 2016 mess

Athletics Kenya (AK) has distanced themselves from the organisational mess affecting Team Kenya in Rio 2016 following a series of bloopers that have affected the country’s biggest medal hopefuls at the Olympics.

In a statement, the federation also called for their South Rift boss, Michael Rotich, who has been expelled from Brazil following damning doping allegations against him to be given a fair hearing as they conduct internal investigations to the matter.

Their press statement sent on Monday evening followed that from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) that said the retired Major would be investigated over claims he asked for bribes to warn athletes of when drug testers would come.

The federation turned its guns on the National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) saying they were responsible for the disarray that has seen among other things, US-based sprinter, Carvin Nkanata, declared ineligible for the Summer Games in Rio.

“AK is concerned by the turn of events in Kenya and Rio affecting our athletes ahead of the start of the athletics programme on Friday. It is therefore important to set the record straight and place the blame where it lays then Kenyans can understand the role of athletics Kenya in these Olympics games,” the release from the communications department of the federation started.

“Any confusion as we have seen with athletes travel is solely a mistake of NOCK. The top leadership is in Rio and Athletics Kenya had to work throughout the weekend to sort out the travel hitch, which affected most athletes like Julius Yego.

“So fed up are the athletes that some of them like Asbel Kiprop had to make their own arrangements while there has been someone in NOCK who has been drawing allowances to facilitate smooth travel,” the scathing release sent by its Communications Department charged.

The simmering differences between the national Olympics body and the athletics federation that have lasted for years were brought to the fore.

“AK has no representation in NOCK Executive Committee which brings together top officials from 30 or so disciplines, most of them representing unsuccessful’ minor’ disciplines.

“AK has for the last 30 years been sidelined from NOCK leadership by their ‘Tyranny of Numbers,” the federation whose athletes have won the country the most medals at international event outlined.

“When AK embarked on preparations of the Rio Olympics after a below expectations performance in London four years ago, we left nothing to chance.

“We fielded athletes in all IAAF sanctioned events and gave the world a sneak preview of what to expect in Rio after annihilating the entire world in Beijing World Championships last year. We are now being repaid in a very unfair manner by being blamed for the mess unfolding in Kenya and Rio,” the federation complained.

 -Nkanata issue-

“As per NOCK timetable, we sent names of probable athletes for the Rio Olympics in March to be accredited by NOCK including that of Calvin Nkanata whose papers were sent on 29th February, 2016.

“The papers clearly indicated that he travels on an American passport although he has a Kenyan Identification Card. AK entered Calvin in 2014 Africa Championships and last year’s IAAF World Championships.

“NOCK has had his papers since March, reconfirmed his travel and received his accreditation or lack of it. Why did they not crosscheck his accreditation, which was rejected under Rule 40 of the IOC? Accreditation confirmation is done months in advance. So what did the advance NOCK team go to Rio to do?” AK lamented over the national men 200m record holder who will not run in Rio.

The statement further claimed the request to have three AK officials seconded to Nock as part of the management committee for Rio 2016 was turned down.

“Therefore NOCK is not truthful when apportioning blame to AK over Calvin’s problems or any other athletes,” it added.

-Rotich investigation-

“We appointed the technical officials including Major Rotich who has reportedly been sent home over doping allegations. However, we cannot comment on this issue until we independently ascertain what has been going on including giving Major Rotich a fair hearing.

“But as far as we are concerned Major Rotich was not acting on behalf of Athletics Kenya neither were Kenyan athletes including those Rio and at home involved in this matter.”