• While visiting on Tuesday afternoon, Clothier said: "AIU has many doping cases from this part of the world but it is good news that we are working together to solve this problem in Kenya."
• Uasin Gishu governor Jonathan Bii said efforts must be made to protect the country's image, which has been built through the prowess of its athletes.
Image: EMMANUEL SABUNI
The Athletics Integrity Unit believes collaboration between the various stakeholders will be key in eradicating doping in the region.
AIU chief executive officer, Brett Clothier said they are working with both the national and Uasin Gishu county governments, Athletics Kenya and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya in a move aimed at restoring the integrity of the sport not only in the country but the world over.
While visiting on Tuesday afternoon, Clothier said: "AIU has many doping cases from this part of the world but it is good news that we are working together to solve this problem in Kenya."
"The national government, through the Ministry of Sports, has pledged five million dollars yearly as additional funding to tackle this menace and we at the AIU are working closely with AK and ADAK and the government at all levels to develop the strategy to spend this money in the best way possible," Clothier added.
He added that the strategy is to restore the reputation of athletics in Kenya and, in collaboration with partners, come up with a lasting solution.
"On Friday, we are meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Sports (Ababu Namwamba) to present what we have been working on so far," he added.
AK president Jack Tuwei said AIU's visit to the country is key in the fight against the menace.
"Doping in Kenya is not something new. It was first reported on February 26, 1988. The second case was in 1992 and since then, the cases have continued to grow, posing a very big challenge to our sport," said Tuwei.
"We were almost sanctioned by the World Athletics but we are grateful that we survived. They gave us a chance to put our house in order, not just for the athletes but for the athlete support staff," he said.
"We have to bring together all the stakeholders in this fight. We don't want to be a bad example."
Uasin Gishu governor Jonathan Bii said efforts must be made to protect the country's image, which has been built through the prowess of its athletes.
Meanwhile, NOC-K President Paul Tergat reiterated the importance of sports stakeholders working together in the promotion of integrity within the sporting system.
Tergat said he is optimistic the recent efforts from the government in conjunction with AK to work closely with the AIU were bound to bear fruit and revive the country’s lost glory in athletics.
He welcomed AIU head Brett Clothier who’s in the country for a working tour with AK and extended his appreciation to the World Athletics Integrity Unit for the good work it is doing towards upholding the best practices in the sport, especially eradicating doping. He said the decision to work jointly towards the goal of integrity in sports demonstrated AIU as a friend of Kenya.
“This fight is for all of us to stand together and attack it from all fronts in all its manifestations and as NOCK, we are in full support of all initiatives to achieve fair play on the competition field,” Tergat noted.