AK not relenting in fight against doping, says Korir

Athletics Kenya (AK) will  this weekend hold a meeting with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) focusing on policies that will help curb the doping menace in the country.

This is according to Nairobi branch Chairman Barnaba Korir, adding they are working closely with the Anti Doping Agency of Kenya, AIU and the government to ensure the doping menace is decisively dealt with ahead of the 2025 World Champions.

Korir says while a lot of effort has been put in fighting doping, there is a lot of work to be done to combat the ever evolving challenge.

“This weekend we are having a meeting with the AIU to who are working closely with ADAK to ensure that the system that we are setting up now to register the athletes, coaches and every stakeholder is efficiently working so that we can network and manage those who are in athletics; and ensure that the issue of doping is dealt with properly," said Korir.

Amid the fight against doping, Korir is happy that the Youth Development Program set up by the federation is bearing tangible fruits.

“We as a federation are really pleased with the way the project has grown in the recent years we are seeing the fruits if the hard work the stakeholders are putting in. The likes of 800m Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet, Mary Moraa and many more are products of the project. We are looking forward to more success in future,” added Korir

Korir has in the meantime underlined AK's commitment in facilitating athletes' welfare outside the track.

“AK is determined to fight the gender-based violence cases which have been on the rise among female athletes, and we have programs to achieve it, which include educating the athletes. This, also, has to do with managing their finances which is something that we continue investing in," explained Korir.

Kenyan h]athletes have kept the legacy of shining across the globe in the 2024 season, and AK is keen to sustain the mojo going to 2025 - the year of World Championships in Tokyo - Japan.