Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta calls for an anti-doping plan

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta gives the start of a race when the Nyayo stadium reopens on September 26, 2020. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

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2 min

In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta is concerned about the recent increase in doping cases among the country's athletes.

He asks the Ministry of Sports to develop a major education and testing plan to fight against this scourge.

For the Kenyan president, the country's reputation is at stake a few months before the Olympic Games.

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This statement is signed by Uhuru Kenyatta who expresses his concern at the increase in doping cases detected in recent months among Kenyan athletes.

This presidential speech was held this weekend in the Nyayo stadium in Nairobi, reopened after 3 years of renovation, a major venue for football competitions and athletics races in the country.

The Kenyan president instructs his Minister of Sports to start a large operation of education and tests to fight against doping.

An agenda that should be a priority and subject to regular evaluations to measure progress.

Increase in doping cases

The speech comes the day after long-distance runner Patrick Siele was suspended for three years for dodging doping tests.

Last July, the Athletics Integrity Unit had already pinned no less than four athletes, all receiving sentences ranging from 2 years to 8 years in suspension.

An upsurge in doping cases which could further tarnish the image of Kenyan athletics.

The pressure is mounting a few months before the Tokyo Olympics.

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• Kenya

• Uhuru Kenyatta

• Sports

• Doping

• Athletics

• 2020 Olympics

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