Indian national arrested in ADAK's Iten crackdown on doping substances

An Indian national residing in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, was on Tuesday, 6 May arrested following a major anti-doping raid by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) in collaboration with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

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The suspect was found in possession of an illegal consignment of assorted performance-enhancing substances banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.

The raid, which took place on Monday, 5 May, was based on actionable intelligence indicating the suspect's involvement in distributing and using banned substances among athletes.

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Among the substances recovered were human growth hormone (HGH), meld onium, and mannitol, all substances commonly linked to performance enhancement in competitive sport.

The authorities also seized intravenous (IV) paraphernalia, including IV bags, syringes, and needles, both used and unused, further suggesting doping activities.

“This discovery is deeply concerning. The presence and circulation of prohibited substances in Iten, a town globally recognized as a training base for elite long-distance runners, is not only illegal but poses serious health risks to athletes,” ADAK said in a statement.

Iten, often dubbed the "Home of Champions," attracts athletes from across the world due to its high-altitude training conditions. This arrest adds to growing concerns about the infiltration of performance-enhancing substances in Kenya’s famed running town.

The Indian suspect is currently booked at the Iten Police Station, with investigations ongoing to uncover his networks, clients, and any potential breaches of both local and international anti-doping laws.

The incident comes just weeks after a pharmacist suspected of administering performance-enhancing substances to athletes in the Rift Valley region escaped arrest during a multi-agency operation in Eldoret.

James Cheruiyot Kipsanai, who had been under investigation by ADAK, DCI, and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) since January 2024, is now on the run after allegedly fleeing through the ceiling of his pharmacy in Kapsoya.

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According to ADAK Senior Compliance Officer Dennis Keitany, Kipsanai previously operated a pharmacy in Iten before opening another under the same name, Kerich Pharmacy in Eldoret's Kapsoya area.

ADAK reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining clean sport in Kenya.

“We will continue to enforce the WADA Code and the ADAK Anti-Doping Rules. The fight against doping is far from over, but we remain unrelenting in our mandate,” the agency emphasized.