Kenya to get new doping agency amid EPO controversy

Weeks after the world’ top female marathoner, Rita Jeptoo, tested positive for the banned substance EPO, her native Kenya is set to get a new doping agency to combat what many believe to be a growing, widespread performance enhancing drug problem in the the country.

The new Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya is the result of a meeting earlier this fall in South Africa where leading figures in the fight against PEDs met to discuss a way to slow the spread of their use in the East African country. It will be known as ADAK. The new agency will be given technical training and guidance by the Norwegian and Chinese anti-doping authorities.

This is happening during a shift in penalties at different levels of leadership in different countries. The World Anti-Doping Agency announced earlier in 2014 it will be cracking down on penalties for those found to be using PEDs. Now, first offenders are banned from competition for two years. That suspension will be doubled to four years on Jan. 1, 2015.

Some countries are moving towards criminal penalties for dopers and those who assist them. A draft bill will go to German parliament this week which would make using or helping athletes use PEDs a jailable crime. Kenyan member of parliament Wesley Korir — married to Canadian runner Tarah Korir (formerly McKay) and the centre-figure in new running documentary Transcend — announced on Twitter earlier this week that he will be introducing a bill which would see athletes sent to prison for not disclosing who provides them with banned substances, though WADA has stated they are against athletes being jailed for using drugs.

“An athlete should be sanctioned under the sports rules which have been developed over many years,” WADA President Craig Reedie told ESPN. “[He] should not be sanctioned under criminal law.”

Jeptoo has asked to have her ‘B’ sample tested from the out-of-competition drug test she failed at the end of September, shortly before her Chicago Marathon victory in October, her fourth-straight world marathon major victory.

Will be introducing a bill in parliament to criminalize doping in Kenya to both athletes ,agents or doctors that assist athletes dope

— Hon wesley korir (@weskorir) November 13, 2014

If the bill passes The athlete will be forced by law to give up the source of drugs or face jail time and will be fined and panned for life

— Hon wesley korir (@weskorir) November 13, 2014