Kenya, renowned for its distance running
pedigree, has been tainted by a number of doping cases involving
high-profile athletes in recent years.
“We need a deeper and genuine national conversation on this
cancer within us. We must stop sweeping it under the carpet
under the guise of confidentiality and expose it for what it
is," Paul Tergat, President of the National Olympic Committee of
Kenya (NOCK), said.
“I once again wish to repeat my previous call that this menace
must be treated for what it is - a criminal act and all
participants in the whole chain face the severest sanctions
possible - whoever they may be - as provided in Law,” added
Tergat, who was twice Olympic 10,000 meters silver medalist.
“As a former athlete, President of NOCK and IOC Member, I am
most disturbed by these recent developments. It is telling me
that whatever we have been doing is not delivering results and
there is need to recalibrate our approach,” Tergat said in an
address to athletes at a ceremony for Kenyan medalists from the
recent Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Former Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop has tested positive
for the banned blood booster EPO, the IAAF's Athletics Integrity
Unit confirmed on Friday.
The 28-year-old three-times world champion was the latest among
the over 50 Kenyan athletes who have failed doping tests,
including 2016 Olympic marathon gold medalist Jemima Sumgong.
Kiprop has vowed to prove his innocence and his case is now with
an IAAF tribunal.
(Reporting by Isaack Omolu, Editing by Ed Osmond)
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