Relief as Parliament passes anti-doping law

The Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture Dr. Hassan Wario officially announced that the Anti-Doping Bill of 2016 has been officially passed by Parliament after it underwent its third reading on Wednesday last week.

The proposal to tackle the doping menace is only awaiting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s signature to become law with the country all set to beat the May 2 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) final deadline for compliance to its code, averting a ban from international competition.

Wario broke the news that allays fears the country’s celebrated track and field team will miss the 2016 Rio 2016 Olympics Games during the welcoming party for the triumphant Kenya 7s team that won the Singapore 7son Tuesday afternoon at a Nairobi hotel.

“This is a great day too for Kenya, since the long awaited Anti-doping Bill has been passed by parliament.

“We are now ready for the Olympics with no excuse. I urge all of us to now focus on Olympics, and I know it will be the best you have ever seen,” the sports minister declared.

The proposed law now awaits President Uhuru’s assent to beat the latest extension given to Kenya by WADA after missing the February 11 and April 5 deadline to comply.

The Bill proposes a penalty of KSh3 million (USD30,000) or imprisonment of not less than three years, for a person or body, who unlawfully transports or transfers, prohibited substances within or outside Kenya.

Similar penalties apply for individuals who stock supplies of products containing banned substances or generally cause an athlete to use such substances.

President Uhuru promised to assent to the Bill immediately it’s passed by Parliament, where he assured Kenyans that he will give it a priority last week.

“This is great news and a relief for athletes. We can now prepare for the Olympics without the fear of any bans. Initially, there was a lot of concern but once the Government moved to fast-track the law; we could now train without concern.

“We can now put this matter behind us and the law will go a long way in getting rid of the doping issue that has brought shame to the country and really disgusts hard working runners like myself.

“Those who have been doing this will now be deterred by the threat of going to jail. Nobody wants to go to jail or to be brought before a court of law for doping and it is a welcome law,” the 2012 London Olympics champion in 1500m, Asbel Kiprop, said from Eldoret.

Report by Mercy Rop and Mutwiri Mutuota