Train with no fear of Rio ban, AK bossTuwei tells athletes

The country’s athletes should continue their preparations for the 2016 Rio Olympics and other international competitions unperturbed, Athletics Kenya (AK) president, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Trials for the East Africa Junior Championships in Nairobi, Tuwei assured Kenyans the country  will not be banned for failing to beat the second World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) deadline for compliance.

“The Government has forwarded a report to WADA to show the progress that has been done in complying with the WADA regulations and I’m aware they have forwarded three documents.

“One is the Government policy, the Bill that was tabled in parliament to accompany the policy and what is expected from the legislation. I’m also aware they have accepted the documents and are satisfied with the progress,” the former Army chief declared.

WADA’s compliance review committee was due to meet in Montreal on Tuesday and its decisions on Kenya are not expected to be announced until May 12 at the conclusion of the Executive Committee and Foundation meeting of the anti-doping body.

Tuwei believes if the Government of had not delayed in the compliance process, then Kenya would not be in a situation of asking for more time to comply.

“I would like to encourage and urge anyone who is involved in preparations for the Olympics and any other upcoming event to continue with good preparation without bothering about the deadline.”

The bill is pending at the first reading stage at the parliament which is currently on recess until the April 20.

The AK chief echoed the remarks made earlier by Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr. Hassan Wario who expressed optimism the nation’s track and field team would not be suspended from international competition.

In February, Tuwei and Wario clashed over who was responsible for the spike in doping cases that have seen over 40 Kenyan runners suspended for doping violations, 36 of them from 2012.

Kenyan athletes first came under the WADA spotlight in 2012 when his suspended predecessor, Isaiah Kiplagat, said at the time the doping problem was a ‘non issue.’

Since then, the scrutiny on Kenyan athletes has been intense with IAAF president, Lord Sebastian Coe saying in February he would not hesitate the country’s revered track and field team from the Olympics if it was found to be non-compliant.

Kiplagat, AK vice-president, David Okeyo, former Treasurer Joseph Kinyua and CEO, Isaac Mwangi have since been suspended on allegations of subverting the anti-doping process among other charges.