Kenya changes stance on PED problem

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 19:  Reliving the Olympic spirit: Sebastian Coe addresses the crowd at the curtain-raiser to Join In Summer 2013 - Go Local, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park  on July 19, 2013 in London, England.  (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Go Local)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 19: Reliving the Olympic spirit: Sebastian Coe addresses the crowd at the curtain-raiser to Join In Summer 2013 – Go Local, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on July 19, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Go Local)

Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat told the press last week that the “doping issue is just as bad as AIDS” in Kenya.

Though the words may be a bit bold, it’s a notable change in tone from previous assertions that there is no doping problem in the East African nation which, along with Ethiopia, dominates the world’s distance running scene.

The comments come before Thursday’s hearing for Kenyan marathon superstar Rita Jeptoo, whose ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples both tested positive for the banned performance-enhancer EPO. The hearing will be held in Nairobi, the nation’s capital. Jeptoo failed a drug test three weeks prior to the 2014 Chicago Marathon, which she won. She also won the 2013 race and both the 2013 and 2014 Boston Marathons. Jeptoo was the top female marathon runner in the world at the time of her positive test and is the biggest Kenyan name to ever be busted for doping.

The BBC this week reported that up to 38 other professional Kenyan runners have already tested positive for banned substances. Kiplagat noted that, in addition to potential lifetime bans, Kenyan agents of athletes who fail drug tests could face criminal prosecution including jail time.

The change in stance comes amid growing concern over what many in the sport believe to be rampant drug use in the country and shortly before a new International Association of Athletics Federations president is selected. Outgoing president Lamine Diack has been criticised by some for not being tough enough in the fight against PED use. Well-known British former athlete and politician Sebastian Coe, a strong voice for fighting drugs in sport, is considered one of the favourites to supersede Diack.

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