Road to Olympics: NOC-K keen to avoid doping shame in Paris

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) is working round the clock to ensure that Kenya will avoid a repeat of doping shame in the Paris Olympics set for July this year.

Among other key strategic plans being implemented towards the summer games,   prevention of doping is major aspect for NOC-K, according to Secretary General Francis Mutuku.

Speaking on Sunday morning in Sagana, Murang'a County during a media training session, Mutuku noted that Kenya has learnt from past incidences of doping.

"This time round we want all tests done and we have results before the athletes travel. In the past it was different, where athletes would be tested and travel before we get the results. That's a gap we have covered well going to Paris," said Mutuku.

After the team has travelled to Paris, Mutuku revealed they will not rest on their laurels as far as guarding against doping is concerned.

"We have a proper medical and wellness team, which will guide the athletes and give general support to ensure we don't have issues emerging right in the competition. This includes education which goes to both the athletes, coaches and managers and all the handlers involved," he said.

In the last Tokyo Olympics, Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno was suspended just hours before the 100m heats, which was a psychological bombshell on the entire team Kenya.

As it would emerge later, Otieno who has since returned to the track after completion of his ban had used contaminated supplements, which he called manufacturing problem.

According to the SG, a top team led by anti-doping officer Dr. Martin Yauma is working to deliver zero doping cases in Paris.

"We developed a work plan to comply with regulations and to maintain the integrity of the sport. This involves testing protocols in competition and out of competition, anti-doping education sessions for the athletes, team leaders, coaches, preparatory and operations committees among other interventions."

At the same time, NOC-K leadership wants early camps for Kenya athletes ahead of the Paris , as one of the ways to increase medal tally from that of the Tokyo edition.

"One of the key objectives we had from the beginning of our preparations was to increase medals we got in the previous Games. To do that, we want to have high-performance camps after the All African Games. We are telling Kenyans that medals, are as a result of time and investment," averred Mutuku.

During the last Tokyo Games, Kenya bagged 10 medals; four gold, four silver and two bronze, all from Athletics. In the 2016 Rio edition (Brazil), Kenya had a total of 13 medals.

The All African Games which kick off in Accra, Ghana on March 8 will conclude on Accra 23 - ushering the opening of the high performance camps.

NOC-K revealed that the local residential camp will start on June 10, in a yet to be confirmed venue while the Miramas camp in Southern France will open on July 2, before the Games kickoff on July 26.

Meanwhile, Mutuku underlined the importance of new sports disciplines for Team Kenya in the Paris Olympics. While this is just a starting point for some of the disciplines, the Secretary General is confident of bright future.