ADAK turns to community and religious leaders in bid to contain doping menace

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya Chief Executive Officer (ADAK) boss Sarah Shibutse has revealed that they have roped in community elders and religious leaders to help in the fight against doping.

The agency will capitalize on the leaders' position of trust and authority to deliver the message of the effects of performance-enhancing substances at the grassroots level.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport during the second edition of the Iten International Marathon held on Sunday, the CEO pointed out that the initiative was part of their diverse approaches to save the dire situation.

"We have now started working together with the community elders, provisional administration, and religious leaders of each community. We thought, that for this message of anti-doping to go out to everyone in each community, we need to involve these leaders because they are closer to the athletes. We had a session in Kericho about two weeks ago and on Saturday we had a session with the Nandi Community leaders and it was very insightful. They assured us of their help so that anytime in churches, 'barazas', or when having their community meetings they are able to emphasize the need for athletes to run clean and participate in whatever competition they are in," Shibutse offered.

She further pointed out that improved testing and involving a multi-agency approach in their fight against doping has yielded results but more still needs to be done, since over 50 athletes will be put on a list of shame at the end of this month for violating anti-doping rules.

ADAK board chairman Daniel Makdwallo also described the dodging menace as worrying and cautioned those found running away from testing personnel that they would be nabbed in the ongoing crackdown.

Makdwallo said ADAK will not relent in the ongoing 'clean-up exercise.'

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba who graced the event said his ministry had declared a zero tolerance to doping.

Namwamba said Sh3.7 billion was set aside to facilitate the war against doping and save the country from being banned from international competitions.

"We want these resources put to good use. We already have a multi-agency team comprising the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Ministry of Health, and the judiciary among other agencies, in place," Namwamba said.

The CS also lauded the ongoing grassroots engagements, noting that they were critical in the anti-doping programs.

" We are in extraordinary circumstances. Today a record broken by a Kenyan would take months to be confirmed because of doping suspicions. We are now running under suspicion. We are put under the microscope. We are going to disrupt the doping network," Namwamba said.

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He said some Kenyan athletes were victims of a doping racket in the country.

" We must go for the coaches and agents. We are coming for you if you are running a training camp classified as a doping spot. We will go to the source. You better lose honorably than to win unfairly," he added.

Among the latest athletes flagged for using prohibited include James Gikunga Karanja, who was suspended for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone).

The marathoner, who took top honors at the Krabi half marathon in August last year, recently claimed the Alor Setar Half Marathon in April, clocking a leading time of 1:15.05.

Joining him is Esther Birundu Borura, who has been flagged for the presence or use of a similar prohibited substance - Norandrosterone.

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Istanbul Half Marathon Purity Temutai Komen, whose case backdates to July, suffers suspension for two offenses however: presence of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone), and evading sample collection.

Capping off the list is marathoner Rebecca Jepchirchir Korir, provisionally suspended for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance (Methylprednisolone).

The 31-year-old in August this year won the Harbin Marathon in China in a time of 2:30.34.