Tergat urges tighter anti-doping measures

National Olympic Committee of Kenya president Paul Tergat has called for tougher penalties and more transparent ways in dealing with doping.

The two-time Olympics Games silver medallist warned Kenyan athletes that they are risking serious sanctions as those imposed on Russia who were found guilty of a systematic state-sponsored doping.

Tergat’s sentiments come on the back of the latest set-back for the country where Olympic and two-time 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop became the latest high-profile Kenyan athlete to fail a drugs test.

Speaking during the awarding ceremony for the Team Kenya Commonwealth Games medalists, Tergat asked to relay on their talent and to resist get rich quick temptations’.

“We need a deeper and genuine national conversation on this menace which is within us. We must stop sweeping it under the carpet under the pretext that most of the time we call it confidentiality. What is this confidentiality that does not want the truth to come out? Yet we are destroying the whole nation.

“I want to say this without contradiction, whatever has been happening before with Russia, which is one of the super powers in this world, where are they? They have been kicked out of this competitions  and are still out there.

The five time IAAF World Cross Country champion,  urged sports fraternity  to stop pretending about the doping issue because it has tainted the country’s image and Kenyan athletes will not be trusted in International events. Pointing out that it will be hard for the country to redeem itself.

“This menace must be treated for what it is. If today Kenya is pushed out of competitions, the youth and all upcoming talents will suffer because you will just stay at home and follow them on television. The Government is going out of their way to fund us for the competitions and they have been let down through doping. We need to prioritise matters in regards to doping as soon as possible. The more we keep quiet the more serious consequences’ we are going to suffer.

His words were echoed by Athletics Kenya (AK) president, Lieutenant General (RTD) Jackson Tuwei.

” This thing is noT very good for us. As an athlete please be responsible, be careful about some of this things and take care of yourself. All this things are a choice. If you choose to mess up your life and that of your family, it’s all on you. As Athletics Kenya we can only advice you. We have done seminars and the most recent was the one we did  before we left for Africa Cross Country in Algeria,”

Tuwei added that his federation will continue collaborating and working with  the Anti – Doping Agency of Kenya  (ADAK) to educate and advice the athletes, pointing out if it is let slide then everyone will assume that Kenyan athletes are not genuine.

In Kenya over 40 athletes have been sanctioned on doping related cases with the most recent being track star Asbel Kiprop who tested positive for World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) banned substance EPO.