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7 Reasons Why Kenyan Athletics Needs To Establish A Drug-Testing Lab

7 Reasons Why Kenyan Athletics Needs To Establish A Drug-Testing Lab

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The problem of doping in athletics has been in the limelight recently, with reports suggesting that there are drug cheats throughout the sport, implicating Russia and Kenya as nations guilty of doping.

Russia was recently provisionally suspended for four years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the country with the most drug cheats, and Kenya now risks the same fate, if they do not show that they are making strides towards clearing doping from their ranks.

As a result, Athletics Kenya (AK) is discussing the possibility of setting up a drug-testing lab in Nairobi with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Here are seven reasons why Athletics Kenya should establish a drug-testing lab in Nairobi.

Sources: The IndependentReuters, IOL, The Guardian.

Blood transfusion - usada.org
Blood transfusion – usada.org

To avoid a four-year ban

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has now given the country an ultimatum, threatening a four-year ban unless serious efforts are made to rid Kenyan athletics of drug cheats. Constructing and running a drug-testing lab in Nairobi is a sure sign that the necessary commitment is in place to clear the sport of cheaters, and WADA would drop the threat of a ban.

Thinkstock
Setting an example – Thinkstock

To set an example for others

Kenya has the opportunity to lead a serious effort to rid athletics of cheating from a local perspective by embracing technology and investing in the infrastructure necessary to combat doping in the sport. In so doing, Kenya is able to act as an example for other nations in Africa and around the world in general.

toggletime.net
toggletime.net

To make testing more efficient

At the moment all samples are sent abroad for testing, which is not ideal. Samples from Kenyan athletes are currently flown five hours to Doha in Qatar for testing, while samples of other sportsmen and women in Kenya are sent to a lab in South Africa. This would be a thing of the past if a Nairobi-based lab were to be established, which would make testing a far easier and efficient process.

uungwana.wordpress.com
uungwana.wordpress.com

To protect the Kenyan reputation

The East African country has produced countless middle and long distance runners of outstanding quality, but the shadow of doping threatens to ruin a solid reputation built on years of success and hard work. By ensuring the operation of a well-run lab for local testing in the East African country, the reputation of Kenyan athletics will be in safer hands.

Africa_future

To secure the future of the sport

Kenyan youth are inspired to train hard and aspire to be world class athletes because they grow up watching their heroes excel on the global stage. These role models serve as the motivation for a generation of potential world-beaters, but if these youngsters see that their mentors are cheaters unworthy of the mantle they occupy, the future of the sport in Kenya will be in serious trouble.

Youtube/SABC
Youtube/SABC

To educate about doping

The best way to stop future athletes from falling down the path of doping, is for them to be properly educated on the pitfalls of the terrible pursuit, while learning that it will see them suspended or expelled from the sport altogether. Athletics Kenya chief executive Isaac Mwangi stated: “We feel that education is the key. Education is what will ensure change and to ensure that a young athlete growing up is not going to be influenced to use performance-enhancing substances.”

Source: Reuters

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youtube

To take part in the Rio Olympics

Russia has been provisionally suspended from the sport for four years due to doping, and in so doing they act as an example for Kenya to avoid by ensuring that drug cheating is handled properly. The 2016 Olympics are set to take place next year in Rio, Brazil, and that competition should provide further motivation for Kenyan athletics to get their house in order, so that they can take part, and not emulate their Russia counterparts.