Kenya Anti-Doping Seminar: Sessions aim to reduce doping in East African nation

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02:22

Doping continues to be a recurrent problem among Kenyan athletes. The East African country has just wrapped up a three-day seminar in Nairobi. The aim is to train athletes on its dangers. CGTN's Oliver Jarvis reports.

The three-day event, held in the capital Nairobi was aimed at giving a helping hand to athletes in the fight against doping in Kenya.

A joint initiative between Athletics Kenya and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, took athletes through values as well as education in anti-doping violations.

A helping hand as well from the Athletics Integrity Unit.

ADITHIR KUMAR, HEAD OF EDUCATION AND COMM. ATHLETICS INTEGRITY UNIT "This is just a starting point. When AK told us they're organizing this three-day educational session and not going to award an awards gala, we were very impressed because there are not many national federations who have done this."

The East African athletics powerhouse has been a hotspot in the battle against doping in sport with a number of worrying cases tainting the legacy of Kenyan athletics. The move comes at a time when the Athletics Integrity Unit's new rules categorize nations annually according to their risk factor with Kenya currently ranked Category A - the highest risk level.

ADITHIR KUMAR, HEAD OF EDUCATION AND COMM. ATHLETICS INTEGRITY UNIT "We are aware that there is a problem of doping in this country and the steps that AK has taken in this last 1 year is a great statement on behalf of the federation and the AIU is going to support AK in partnership with the Doctor's Network in Kenya and ADAK. We are sure we'll work together to clean up the sport in this country."

Several steps have already been taken with the setting up of a WADA-approved anti-doping lab in Kenya. The recent visit of WADA Intelligence & Investigations Director Gunter Younger, who said the vice in the country was not systemic are positive signs.

The onus now, is on the athletes.

ADITHIR KUMAR, HEAD OF EDUCATION AND COMM. ATHLETICS INTEGRITY UNIT "How can they support us in the initiative of clean sport - reporting any wrong practices they see around because without their support, this initiative will not work. So we want their support. We want all their information and will provide all education needed and we're here to work together with them."

OLIVER JARVIS, CGTN.