Kenya anti-doping bill is only the start

Media Release April 20, 2016
NZ anti-doping chief says Kenya anti-doping bill is only the start

Kenyan athletes are one step closer to competing in the Rio Olympics after an anti-doping bill demanded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was passed by Kenya’s parliament overnight.

The bill, criminalising doping in sport, is expected to be signed into law this week by Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta after numerous doping suspensions of high profile athletes in the East African nation.

However Drug Free Sport NZ (DFSNZ) chief executive Graeme Steel says the law change requires follow up action otherwise it’s just another piece of paper.

“What New Zealand athletes require is comfort that their competitors from Kenya are under the same controls as they are,” he says.

“The law is an important first and necessary step but still not sufficient.”

New Zealand athletes will face Kenyan athletes across many codes in the Rio Olympics, most notably, long and middle distance running and rugby sevens.

“It’s one thing to have a law but the real requirement is an effective programme on the ground,” Mr Steel says.

Since 2012, almost 40 Kenyan athletes have failed doping tests, including Rita Jeptoo, a Chicago marathon champion and former three-time Boston City Marathon winner.

Kenya had earlier missed two deadlines set by WADA to show it was serious about dealing with the problem and gave Kenya a final four-week extension earlier this month to approve the bill. If it passes into law later this week, Kenyan athletes could be imprisoned for up to 12 months and face a hefty fine if found guilty of doping.

Ends

About Drug Free Sport NZ:

• Drug Free Sport NZ is New Zealand’s National Anti-Doping Organisation committed to protecting and promoting a culture of clean sport.

• We implement the World Anti-Doping Code which details the anti-doping rules, as well as prohibited substances and doping methods. We help athletes to understand and follow these rules and take action against those who break these rules.

• Our work comprises three key components:

o enforcement through our testing and investigations programme

o education through athlete resources, outreach programmes, seminars, and research

o influence to help create a culture of clean sport in New Zealand and to ensure anti-doping rules reflect the needs of our athletes.

• In 2014/15, Drug Free Sport NZ collected almost 1500 samples from New Zealand and international athletes.

• In the same year, three athletes were disciplined for anti-doping rule violations.

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