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Kipsang, Keitany want Kenya to strengthen anti-doping campaign

2014-11-13 16:18 Xinhuanet

NAIROBI, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Top professional athletes believe Kenya is not doing enough to curb the use of performance enhancement drugs and doping.

With the news of Chicago Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo still clear in the mind, New York Marathon champions Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany are certain that more stringent measures by Athletics Kenya and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will help stem the vice.

However, the duo want Kenya government to be on the front to fighting the vice and enhance education seminars among the training camps so as all athletes are aware of the danger of testing positive and which foods, supplements and medication to avoid.

"The government should do thorough investigations and curb doping since it taints the good name of Kenya. It is sad to note that most athletes caught plead innocent and ignorant of their act. They need education," said Kipsang, who is the president of the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya (PAAK).

"But most important the government and AK must work hard to ensure sensitization of the same is done and all know the risks involved. We just need to have a clean sport," Kipsang added on Wednesday.

Jeptoo urine sample taken out of competition on Sept. 25 returned positive for the banned Erythropoietin (EPO).

Mary Keitany, the women' s New York Marathon winner, asked AK to move with speed and deal with doping issues. She also said she supports proposed longer bans to those found guilty beyond the current two-year ban period.

"The federation should take action on doping cases because it' s giving us and our country a bad name," said Keitany.

"AK must name and even push those behind Rita' s (Jeptoo) doping. Probe the people surrounding her and bring them to book. She did not do it knowingly, somebody convinced her.

"It's sad that no one has been caught supporting the act yet athletes are banned. Mathew Kisorio was banned, and no information or persons were held responsible. It' s time people took responsibility," said Keitany.

Italian Claudio Berardelli, the coach of Jeptoo since 2012, spoke to LetsRun.com about his athlete' s positive test.

"I feel stupid. I feel like I' m no longer able to do this job - I don' t know what my real impact is because now it seems like there is something going on behind the scenes," he said.

Barnaba Korir, AK Nairobi branch chairman and former athlete, said the AK Medical and Anti-Doping Commission should summon Jeptoo' s coach and the agent Federico Rosa to give their side of the story.

Both Jeptoo and Kisorio are under Rosa's management agency.

During the New York Marathon, some placard-waving fans carried "No to EPO" banners, the substance Jeptoo is reported to have tested positive for in her A-sample in an out of competition test on Sept. 25.

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