ADAK CEO Rugut allays Olympics ban fears

ADAK CEO Rugut allays Olympics ban fears

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has moved in to allay fears that the country may be banned from participating in the coming Rio 2016 Olympics due to non-compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

On the day it emerged IAAF president, Lord Sebastian Coe would not hesitate to ban the entire Kenyan track and field team from the Summer Games in Brazil if it the Independent Commission of WADA rules the country is not compliant with the code, ADAK said it had put necessary measures as required by the world governing body.

According to the new ADAK Chief Executive Officer, Jasper Kiplimo Rugut, WADA has recommended a raft of measures to be taken that they were currently embarking on.

Rugut said they were working closely with the global anti-doping body noting they wanted Government to expedite and show commitment in fighting the vice.

“They wanted to know how the Government has committed itself to ADAK in terms of Budgets, Policy and Bill and staffing,” he added.

The former Central Provincial Commissioner said that the agency was in the process of procuring Anti-Doping equipment noting that treasury has already released Sh300m (USD3m) to the local organisation.

“We are on track and the equipment including testing kits will be situated in all training camps for athletes across the country.

“We have fully cooperated with WADA although we recognize there has been delays in the processes hence the lapse of one of the deadlines that had been put in place.”

Rugut was speaking to the press during the ongoing workshop for the agency’s staff at Enashipai resort in Naivasha.

He said the meeting was meant to develop an organizational structure while preparing a human resources manual for the new agency.

On Wednesday, the IAAF boss warned he would ban Kenyan athletes from the Olympics if Athletics Kenya joined the Russian federation in being declared non-compliant with the WADA.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe confirmed he would not hesitate to seek the ultimate sanction for any nation guilty of attempting to cover up drug-taking following a stream of shocking allegations about Kenyan athletics and its officials.

Kenya, who finished top of the medal table at last year’s World Championships, last week missed a deadline to prove to Wada it was doing enough to combat doping.

It faces an anxious wait to learn whether it will be declared non-compliant with the agency’s code, something that could see its athletes banned from competing on the world stage.

Rugut on the hand said the agency was looking into the allegations leveled against Athletics Kenya CEO Isaac Mwangi adding that they would release a report soon.

“We have heard the allegations and a committee has been formed by the Agency’s board to look into the issues and the findings will be made public,” he explained.

Report by Karanja Kamau

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Athletics Kenya ADAK Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya

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