Mark Mutai unfiltered: Hard truth about 400m racing and Kenya’s doping woes

‎Mutai, who won gold in the 400m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and was part of Kenya’s victorious 4x400m relay team at the 2010 African Championships, spoke during the third Athletics Kenya (AK) Track and Field Meeting at the Eliud Kipchoge Sport's Complex last Saturday.

‎Reflecting on the doping menace, Mutai expressed concern over the growing number of Kenyan athletes being sanctioned for using banned substances.

“The issue of doping has become rampant lately. I think athletes are not well-prepared to work hard and win clean. Many of them just want to win by any means, which is not the right approach. But I hope the efforts by the federation and ADAK (Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya) to educate them on the disadvantages of doping will help bring change.”

‎Since 2017, nearly 130 Kenyan athletes, primarily long-distance runners, have been penalized for doping violations.

World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe, during his visit to Kenya earlier this month, praised the government's efforts in combating doping, citing an annual investment of $5 million (approximately KSh 645.75 million) to fight banned substances.

“The funding made available by the Kenyan government has been extremely helpful in this fight," Coe stated, highlighting the collaboration between the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Athletics Kenya (AK), and ADAK.

‎Mutai, who also represented Kenya at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, shared insights on what it takes to excel in the 400m race.

“This race is very interesting. When I see people running, I feel tempted to join them. But it's tricky—you have to calculate before you start. If you use too much energy in the first 300m, you might struggle in the last 100m and end up at the bottom.”

‎He emphasized the importance of speed and endurance, saying: “Endurance needs a lot of hill work and gym training. You must spread your energy wisely from the beginning to the end.”

‎Mutai remains hopeful that the next generation of Kenyan sprinters will rise to the occasion and continue the legacy he and others left behind.