•Kamau said this on the opening day of a two-day seminar for 32 coaches from central Kenya that started at the regional offices of AK in Nyeri county on Friday.
•While stressing AK's desire to protect retired athletes from financial problems caused by illness and old age, Kamau enumerated cases where athletes faced problems after retirement.
Image: Erick Barasa
Athletics Kenya Chief Administrative Officer Susan Kamau has called on Kenyan athletes to register with the national governing body for a pension plan.
Kamau said this on the opening day of a two-day seminar for 32 coaches from central Kenya that started at the AK regional offices in Nyeri county on Friday.
While stressing AK's desire to protect retired athletes from financial problems caused by illness and old age, Kamau enumerated cases where athletes faced problems after retirement.
"We have signed with the CPF to handle the athletes' pension plan. Coaches should encourage athletes to join the program. Next will be coaches and then leaders," Kamau said.
To reduce rising incidents of double-crossing, the administrator stressed the need for coaches to guide their athletes through contractual agreements.
She said in cases where athletes will be found to have signed more than one contract, AK will recognize the one that was signed first.
"We are in the process of registering managers. When your athlete writes a contract, please get involved. We will consider the first contract that the athlete signs as the valid one."
Kamau also asked the coaches to register officially with the local governing body to be officially recognized in their fields of expertise.
He added that AK has started to keep a database of local experts. "Last week we held a meeting with the sports registrar and it was made clear that the coach must remain a coach and not be a technical leader.
"It is the responsibility of the Sports Registrar to register coaches. Next week we will send a circular to all AK county headquarters to collect a database of all qualified coaches," he said.
Kamau urged Kenyan athletes to refrain from violating anti-doping laws, saying the trend has gotten out of hand.
"Every time I open my computer and read those messages I am shocked. Let the athletes run clean," she said.
"Earlier, we organized award galas for our athletes to celebrate their achievements. We have nothing to celebrate anymore because months after organizing the award ceremony we receive the news that the athletes have been banned.
She advised athletes to join the Kenyan Doctors Network who are in a better position to provide safe drugs that may not land them in trouble with anti-doping agencies.
"Encourage athletes to join the Kenyan Doctors Network who can advocate for their rights when necessary."
Speaking at the event, AK Vice President Paul Mutwii urged the coaches to share their knowledge with their colleagues who did not have the opportunity to attend the course.
"I want to thank the organizers of the seminar for bringing the coaches together."
He warned athletes against associating with people who have bad intentions. "We have fake people in athletics who join the sport thinking there is a lot of money," Mutwii said.
He asked the coaches to take care of their officials and refrain from uttering unnecessary incitements against them.
"There is a lot of incitement against the current leadership."
AK's head of anti-doping programs, Charlotte Kurgoy, took the class through 11 anti-doping laws, and warned that drastic measures have been taken to deter the vice.
"Moving forward even coaches will be responsible in cases where athletes will be found guilty of violating anti-doping laws," she said.
The participants asked the anti-doping organizations to take strict action against the erring athletes.
The chairman of AK in the area David Miano attended the event.