Kenyan athletes shine at Tokyo world championships, but doping remains a problem
The East African nation has invested millions to combat the issue, but it remains on anti-doping agency Wada’s watch list
Kenyan athletes may have shone at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, winning seven gold medals, but persistent allegations of doping still cast a shadow as the global anti-doping agency threatens to sanction the East African country.
The warning is anything but trivial for a nation whose runners embody Kenyans' hopes for lifting families out of poverty, a desperate desire that can drive some over the line.
Over the years, and following numerous scandals, Kenya has repeatedly promised and invested millions to clear up the issue – but it remains high up on the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) watch list.
“Most of our athletes are running to escape poverty and support their families, and they, as a result, will use all manner of things, including doping,” said Kenya’s three-time Boston Marathon winner Ibrahim Hussein Kipkemtboi.
“Winning is a lifetime chance,” he said.
Some 140 Kenyan athletes, mainly long-distance runners, have been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) since 2017 – more than any other nation.