Doping smear conspirator charged with forgery

Forgery suspect, Elias Kiptum, who is believed to be part of an international conspiracy ring, out to tarnish Kenya's image in the athletics world, by developing false doping allegations against Kenyan athletes was, on Monday, 26 April, morning arraigned before Jomo Kenyatta International Court. 

His arrest and subsequent arraignment followed investigations by the DCI Anti-Narcotics Unit detectives, who since September 2020 were pursuing a criminal syndicate which has been working with foreign journalists in fabricating information on doping in Athletics Kenya(AK).

Forged documents purportedly signed by officials from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and AK were shared with the Europe-based journalists, who have been part of the ring.

In a thorough operation by DCI sleuths on April 18, a raid conducted at Kiptum's residence in Iten, within Elgeyo Marakwet County saw the confiscation of several documents bearing ADAK and AK letter heads, alongside suspicious bank slips.

The perpetrators had prepared documents purporting that doping was being promoted and encouraged by several state agencies in the country. He said he prepared the documents with the aim of having Kenya suspended from participating in the forthcoming Olympics in September. 

Contract agreement documents between the local suspects and the foreign journalists, three laptops, mobile phones among other electronic gadgets were also confiscated from the suspect's house and are undergoing forensic analysis at DCI Headquarters.

Appearing before the JKIA court today, Kiptum denied all 12 charges leveled against him and remains in custody pending bail ruling which has been scheduled for Tuesday April 27.

In January this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2020 into law. The new law amended the Anti-Doping Act of 2016 to align Kenya's legislative framework with the 2021 World Anti-Doping code and regulations.

Kenya introduced criminal laws as part of the Anti-Doping Act of 2016, granting officials the power to jail support staff found guilty in connection with doping. This included the creation of a national testing authority, Anti-Doping Kenya, while it made doping an offence which could be punished by imprisonment.

The new anti-doping law also ensures the continued participation of Kenyan athletes in local, regional and international competitions in line with the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Convention against doping in sports.

In 2016, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) put the country on its Category A list of nations on watch for anti-doping violations.