A multi-agency task force retreated to deliberate on the anti-doping fight in Kenya starting at Kasarani Stadium as the government commence its commitment to wage war against doping perpetrators.
This comes 12 days after Kenya escaped a ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit over increased doping cases after World Athletics president Seb Coe announced that they had received assurances from the Kenyan government over their fight against the vice.
Kenya has been increasingly under the scope due to increased doping cases with up to 46 athletes being sanctioned this year, the government’s move to form a multi-agency team drawn, national police, Kenyan defense forces, National Intelligence Service, Athletics Kenya, Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), national sporting federations and the ministry will have to affirm resolution to the perpetrators of the vice.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke opened the retreat with the minister saying the multi-agency team was one of the promises they had made to World Athletics and AIU.
“12 days ago we got feedback from the World Athletics Council on the rising cases of doping in the country, the good news was the council agreed on the position and proposal to fight to dope. Kenya is capable of fighting the war on doping, we have the will, desire and determination to fight to dope. The government has prioritized the effort on zero tolerance for doping. That’s the position of Kenya. After the two-day retreat, we will have solid recommendations,” said Namwamba.
” We have put an effective agency response plan to deliver zero tolerance, after the retreat, we will deploy the plan to effect and Adak is deploying every measure to fight the doping. We are giving an assurance that we will win the war.
Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei added: “We need all the effort as a country and today we just started the discussion on how to manage the doping menace, we will have the best resolutions.”
