Rio bound Kiprop, Korir welcome WADA compliance nod

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s decision to declare Kenya complaint with its Code is the perfect motivation for the Olympics; according to Rio 2016 bound three-time world 1500m champion, Asbel Kiprop and 2012 Boston Marathon winner Wesley Korir.

Kiprop who preparing to depart for Brazil on Sunday noted it was a challenge for Team Kenya athletes to concentrate on the training with the non-compliance verdict hanging over their heads.

“It’s a relief that Kenyan athletes who are clean and actually talented who are hard working. It acted as a lesson when Kenya was declared Non-Compliant it will set our record straight and be able to arrest athletes who will fail their doping tests.

“Now that we are compliant, I hope to perform well in Rio. I have five days remaining before I compete and I hear the weather is ok and not very hot as we had anticipated. We are now on the safer side of WADA,” the runner who is seeking to reclaim the Olympics crown told Citizen Digital.

In welcoming the development, Team Kenya captain Korir who is also the Member of Parliament for Cherangany, declared all requirements set by world athletics body, IAAF and International Olympics Committee regarding to dope testing had been met.

“It means a lot to us we knew we are compliant and did the best as a country and we had no worries.  We have been tested enough and followed the directive from WADA to the letter. All the tests came back clean and we are sending a very clean team.

“However, being declared compliant does not mean the end of us fighting doping menace. The journey as begun and athletes should always run clean and do enough training. Otherwise the long arm of the law will catch up with you,” the marathoner added.

-Fair hearing-

Paris Marathon Cyprian Kotut hopes that structures will be put in place to deal with matters regarding doping fairly.

Kotut who is now very familiar with the corridors of Millimani Courts after his coach Claudio Berardelli was charged with doping related offences now hopes the Italian will get a fair hearing.

“I’m happy with the news knowing that we can compete without any worries. Though I’m not happy with how Kenya is handling the issue of doping it’s not yet time to celebrate until we do what is required of us,” he said.

Beradelli and five locals are facing charges of conspiracy to injure a person in his profession alongside with their case fixed for the next hearing in September.

“When it comes to investigating matters on doping, I feel that the investigators should come to the grassroots and ask athletes to give them a clear picture since some people might be malicious with intent to destroy other people’s name.

“I feel the matter regarding my coach Claudio and Federico Rosa of Rosa Associati is not being handled fairly. It’s really affecting us psychologically and mentally as some of us prepare for Olympics and marathon races,” the Paris winner decried.

Kenya was declared non-compliant on May 12 after missing two deadlines to comply with the Code before the law passed by Government was deemed faulty.