World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe has commended Kenya’s commitment to eradicating doping in athletics, praising the government’s $5 million( KSH 645,750,000.00) annual investment in the fight against the menace.
During a courtesy visit to Cabinet Secretary for Sports Hon. Salim Mvurya, alongside Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum, Lord Coe acknowledged the significant strides Kenya has made, particularly since the country was on the verge of sanctions two years ago due to rising doping cases.
Kenya’s Commitment to Clean Athletics
“The funding made available by the Kenyan government has been extremely helpful in this fight,” Lord Coe remarked. “The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is very satisfied with the progress being made.”
Coe further noted that a permanent AIU officer is now working directly with Athletics Kenya and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to ensure strong collaboration and oversight.
CS Mvurya reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ensuring clean competition, stating:
“The Government of Kenya remains committed to availing resources every year to enhance sensitization, testing, investigations, and compliance awareness among athletes.”
This $5 million ( KSH 645,750,000.00) pledge, first made two years ago by President William Ruto’s administration, is being fully implemented, ensuring strict anti-doping enforcement.
Tackling Gender-Based Violence in Sports
Aside from anti-doping, Lord Coe and CS Mvurya also addressed gender-based violence (GBV) in sports, recognizing that sports can be a powerful platform to raise awareness and drive change.
Kenya has established a dedicated secretariat led by a CEO focused on combating gender-based violence in sports.
“We have rolled out efforts to address GBV, and the secretariat is making significant progress,” CS Mvurya stated.
A Bright Future for Kenyan Athletics
Lord Coe reiterated World Athletics’ support for Kenya, emphasizing that the country’s legacy of clean running and global excellence must be upheld.
“We are happy with our collaboration and will continue working closely with the Kenyan government to maintain its strong reputation on the global stage,” Coe affirmed.
CS Mvurya concluded by assuring that Kenya will step up efforts in both anti-doping and GBV prevention, reinforcing the government’s commitment to ethical sportsmanship and athlete welfare.
