World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) President Witold Banka has expressed confidence in Kenya's fight against doping in athletics. During a three-day visit to Kenya, Banka and Wada officials held separate discussions with athletes, the National Olympic Committee-Kenya, the Sports Ministry, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak), and President William Ruto. The meetings aimed to strengthen Kenya's anti-doping efforts and ensure a zero-tolerance policy towards doping.
Banka warned that criminals smuggling performance-enhancing drugs into Kenya will be targeted by a proposed team comprising police, prosecutors, customs and immigration officials, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). He emphasized that these individuals, including wayward doctors, coaches, and athletics officials, are destroying the lives and careers of innocent athletes.
Wada officials are pushing for an aggressive approach to combat doping in Kenya, which has been categorized as a high-risk federation by World Athletics. Banka believes that with proper funding and support for Adak, Kenya can effectively fight doping and become a role model for the rest of Africa. He cited Europe's success in seizing over 1.8 billion illegal steroids and performance-enhancing drugs in two decades.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, who attended the press conference alongside Banka, pledged total support to Adak and emphasized the government's commitment to clean sports. Mvurya announced that Kenya is amending its legislation policy to align with Wada's mandate and framework, ensuring a unified approach to anti-doping efforts.
Kenya has recorded over 140 doping sanctions since 2017, with track and field, specifically long-distance running and marathons, being the most affected sport. The country has faced intense scrutiny from international athletics organizations, but recent efforts have focused on increasing testing targets to 5,000 tests annually.
Banka expressed his conviction that Kenya will become a great role model for Africa in the fight against doping. He emphasized the importance of establishing a culture of clean sport and running in Kenya, ensuring that athletes compete on a level playground.
The visit by Wada officials and their meetings with Kenyan stakeholders have given the global body confidence that the requests made will be fulfilled, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking criminals. Banka's visit has also coincided with Kenya's preparations to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, adding significance to the country's anti-doping efforts.
Key points
- Wada President Witold Banka has expressed confidence in Kenya's efforts to combat doping in athletics during a three-day visit to the country.
- Banka has called for a zero-tolerance policy towards doping in Kenya and warned those involved in smuggling performance-enhancing drugs.
- Kenya has recorded over 140 doping sanctions since 2017 and faces intense scrutiny from international athletics organizations.
