Government will criminalize doping, Sports CS Ababu Namwamba says
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts Ababu Namwaba has vowed to amend the laws to make doping a criminal offense in Kenya.
Speaking at the Nandi County Air Quality Sensor’s unveiling, the CS urged athletes to uphold honesty and fair play even as they pursue glory.
“Doping is a shortcut that is shortlived in terms of benefits. As a government we are going to make doping very expensive,” Ababu said.
“I am bringing proposals to amend the laws. To elevate doping substances to the level of hard drugs,” he added.
On his part, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang requested that the CS helps Kenyan athletes get diplomatic passports to save time during international events.
There are currently 23 athletes from Kenya who have been suspended for doping, including the champion of the 2021 Boston Marathon, Diana Kipyokei, and her countrywoman Betty Wilson Lempus.
The two athletes were temporarily suspended for using the drug triamcinolone acetonide by the Athletic Integrity Unit (AIU), a body established by World Athletics to fight doping in the sport.
Both are accused of obstructing the AIU’s investigation by offering fabricated data or evidence.
In 2016, the country was placed in category A of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) compliance watch list.
Countries ranked in Category A by WADA have much more onerous obligations to meet, prior to a World Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games.