Since the positive drug test and subsequent banning of Kenyan distance runner Mathew Kisorio in June, Kenyan officials have suggested that this was an isolated incident, and not part of any 'systemic doping procedure' or common practice carried out in the Rift Valley ("Suspended Kenyan says doping is common").
However, in this last week of September, Athletics Kenya has seen fit to officially comment after investigating claims made by an undercover German journalist posing as a sports' agent that doping is widespread in the training centres of Kapsabet and Iten.
Athletics Kenya Chairman Isaiah Kiplagat has now stated that the body is working with police and the World Anti-Doping Agancy (WADA) to investigate this 'criminal act' (Athletics Kenya admits banned substance use: Runners World).
StarAfrica.com carries the story of the report Hajo Seppalt made on German television last week, where he cites doctors carrying out injections to elite Kenyan AND foreign athletes whom are training in the famed Rift Valley, and suggests that the blood doping has been occuring for years, naming top Kenyan marathon and Olympic runners on the programme 'Sportschau'. See starafrica.com banned substances described by journalist.
Web forums are alive with information and clips of interviews by Seppalt on radio and television, (German) tv interview, with even Nairobi chemists being quoted as to their athletic customer base!
It is unlikely we have heard the last of these claims, and more importantly not the last of the investigations by WADA, which should be made public by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). This is key, as the Danish anti-doping Chairman Bengt Saltin had suggested to Seppalt that there were 'changes in blood levels' of some Kenyan athletes noted at IAAF European events between 2008-2010. Kisorio, it should be noted, was found to have tested positive for anabolic steroids at the 2012 Kenyan Athletics Championships.
Kiplagat himself has stated that Athletics Kenya has stipulated that doping equipment will become mandatory at national meets from 2013 to help curb banned performance enhancers, and restore credibility to the Kenyan endurance programme internationally.
Will that be sufficient, or is it too little, too late to end what Kisorio described as being drug use promoted by medical personnel in exchange for a share of any winnings?
However, in this last week of September, Athletics Kenya has seen fit to officially comment after investigating claims made by an undercover German journalist posing as a sports' agent that doping is widespread in the training centres of Kapsabet and Iten.
Athletics Kenya Chairman Isaiah Kiplagat has now stated that the body is working with police and the World Anti-Doping Agancy (WADA) to investigate this 'criminal act' (Athletics Kenya admits banned substance use: Runners World).
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| Hajo Seppalt at London2012 |
Web forums are alive with information and clips of interviews by Seppalt on radio and television, (German) tv interview, with even Nairobi chemists being quoted as to their athletic customer base!
It is unlikely we have heard the last of these claims, and more importantly not the last of the investigations by WADA, which should be made public by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). This is key, as the Danish anti-doping Chairman Bengt Saltin had suggested to Seppalt that there were 'changes in blood levels' of some Kenyan athletes noted at IAAF European events between 2008-2010. Kisorio, it should be noted, was found to have tested positive for anabolic steroids at the 2012 Kenyan Athletics Championships.
Kiplagat himself has stated that Athletics Kenya has stipulated that doping equipment will become mandatory at national meets from 2013 to help curb banned performance enhancers, and restore credibility to the Kenyan endurance programme internationally.
Will that be sufficient, or is it too little, too late to end what Kisorio described as being drug use promoted by medical personnel in exchange for a share of any winnings?
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