World Athletics has been urged not to ban Kenya from the sport for violations of doping rules by a government minister from the East African country.
The nation is reportedly at risk of a sanction following a string of cases, with 55 of its athletes serving suspensions issued by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
Kenya’s situation will be discussed at the World athletics council meeting in Rome soon.
AbabuNamwamba, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, has written to World Athletics president Lord Coe to assure him that Kenya’s government was taking firm measures to uphold the integrity of athletics.
“We cannot allow our nation to be banned because of the actions of some greedy unethical individuals,” Namwamba said.
“We will target and deal decisively with the criminals and their syndicates. We must work together to eradicate doping and cheating from athletics and sports in general.”
Kenya is among seven countries deemed a ‘Category A’ federation – the highest doping risk – by the AIU, meaning athletes from the countries have to undergo at least three tests in the 10 months prior to a major event to be able to compete there.
Its total of 55 athletes serving bans is the third most of any nationality behind Russia (102) and India (61).
Russia has been banned by World Athletics from competing as a nation in athletics since 2015 but untainted athletes were still able to compete under a neutral flag until the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February, when all athletes, support personnel and officials from the country were banned. –BBC
