Sabastian Sawe after winning the London Marathon/ FILELondon Marathon champion Sabastian Sawe and his management have proposed a special anti-doping regime with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in the build-up to his Berlin Marathon appearance.
The bold move aims at dispelling any doubts surrounding his performance at the race.
Sawe, who trains under the 2running Club, is the favourite to win in the German capital on September 21.
His decision comes in the wake of the AIU’s provisional suspension of women’s world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich as well as various bans and suspensions on Kenyan athletes.
Chepng'etich, who clocked 2:09:56 to shatter the women's record in Chicago last year, was provisionally suspended following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide on March 14.
Following his blistering start to marathon running, whispers of a possible world record attempt have grown louder as Sawe prepares for Berlin.
The men’s global mark over 42km remains the 2:00:35 clocked by the late Kelvin Kiptum during his triumphant run at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
In the lead-up to his maiden Berlin appearance, Sawe insists he is taking no chances.
"I am tired of reading what people write in the press and on social media. There is always doubt or an accusation when the athlete is a Kenyan," Sawe told Citius mag.
"I do, however, recognise that doping is a huge problem in our country. We cannot deny this or avoid the topic. To do so would be a mistake and we must accept that it is a fact."
Sawe stressed the importance of shining a light on the doping scourge that continues to taint Kenyan athletics.
"To fight the current state of doping, we must shed light on it and the issues surrounding it and work with the sport's authorities and governing bodies like AIU and World Athletics."
"I feel we must all combat what has become like a cancer for Kenyan athletes. By taking this step, I hope that I not only can serve as an example for other athletes, but that people will truly try to address the issue and to try to find lasting solutions," he added.
Sawe stated that his bold step is meant to show the world that he is clean, both before and after stepping up to the Berlin start line.
"But first, I want to prove that I am clean when I set foot at the start line and that whatever result comes from my efforts, it is not dragged through the mud because I am Kenyan.”
The specialised programme includes at least 25 anti-doping controls in the two months leading up to the race, comprising unannounced, out-of-competition tests using the most advanced laboratory protocols.
All testing is managed independently by the AIU, with Sawe and his team not knowing the timing or methods.
The initiative is fully funded by adidas, Sawe’s primary sponsor and the first tests were conducted on July 25.
Sawe made his marathon debut in Valencia last year, clocking an astonishing 2:02:05 to outkick Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta (2:02:38) and compatriot Daniel Mateiko (2:04:24).
He returned in London for his second marathon, once again underlining his rising stature as he cut the tape in 2:02:27, leaving Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37) and Alexander Munyao (2:04:20) trailing behind.
In Berlin, Sawe will square up against Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha, Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay, and compatriot Daniel Mateiko.
