Uhuru fetes athletes as he assures doping bill passage

Uhuru fetes athletes as he assures doping bill passage

President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured that the Anti-doping Bill 2016 will be passed on time to beat the deadline set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The President said the Government has given the Bill priority, adding that he is personally following it up with the leadership in the National Assembly until it is passed.

“By next week latest, the Anti-Doing Bill will have been passed by Parliament and I will have signed it into law so that there will be no excuse to deny our team from participation in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August,” President Kenyatta said.

The Head of State spoke on Monday when he hosted the victorious Paris Marathon and IAAF/University of Cardiff World Half Marathon athletes for breakfast at State House, Nairobi.

“We know there are people who are looking for excuses to ensure that Kenya does not participate in the Olympics. We will not give them that excuse,” President Kenyatta said.

“We must win clean,” the President told the runners, saying the country’s undisputed position as the world athletics champions should not be tainted by doping.

Enactment of the Bill is a key requirement set by WADA for Kenya’s participation in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics starting on August 5. The proposed law will make doping a crime in Kenya.

The President congratulated the athletes for their sterling performance at the World Half in Cardiff, Wales, last month and at the Paris Marathon this month.

“To the Paris team, you made us very proud. Every meeting we attended in Paris, people were singing ‘Kenya-Kenya-Kenya’ as a result of your efforts. Congratulations also to the World Half Marathon team for the pride you have also brought to our country,” President Kenyatta said.

“As athletes, you are not only putting Kenya on the map and giving us pride but you are also representing what is best about our country. This is something that we are very proud of and I want to assure you of my personal as well as my Government’s continued support,” the Head of State added.

He said the Government reward scheme launched by his predecessor, Mwai Kibaki that sees athletes rewarded with Ksh1m, silver medal Ksh500,000 and Ksh250,000 bronze medallists is still in place with the winning teams receiving Ksh1m to share.
“Even if you win prizes, you represent our country. Therefore, we also have a responsibility to appreciate your efforts,” President Kenyatta said.

The World Half Marathon Championships team was led by 23-year old two-time champion Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor while the Paris Marathon squad was led by Cyprian Komurgor Kotut who won the men’s race.

President Kenyatta also disclosed that the Government has put in place all the necessary measures to ensure that Kenya successfully hosts the World Junior Athletics Championships in July next year.

Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei thanked President Kenyatta for his support to athletics and sports in general.

Tuwei assured that the Kenyan teams have embarked on preparations and will not disappoint in the coming competitions.

Sports, Culture and the Arts Principal Secretary Richard Ekai outlined the steps his Ministry has taken to boost sports, among them the establishment of the National Anti-doping Agency (NADA) which is operational.

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Uhuru kenyatta Visiline Jepkesho Cyprian Kotut Geoffrey Kipsang

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