Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba yesterday said that the government is committed to the war against doping among Kenyan sporters.

Namwamba said there are concerted efforts by the government and other apparatus involved in dealing with the menace and warned athletes who do not want to run clean that they shall be treated as normal criminals.

“Kenya is capable of effectively fighting the war on doping. It will not be business as usual as there will be zero tolerance on the vice that has tainted Kenya’s name,” said Namwamba while lauding anti-doping agencies including the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) for putting in place measures to nab cheats in athletics.

The minister made the announcement in the presence of several government agencies including the judiciary, Athletics Kenya (AK) and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) all of whom will work together to ensure that the vice is eradicated once and for all.

Namwamba said work towards the realization of the agenda has started in earnest and reiterated that it was in the interest of the government for the athletes to earn a decent living.

Remedial measures

 “It is 12 days down the line when we embarked on remedial measures. Athletics is too important for Brand Kenya and when such cases occur, common sense dictates that a lasting solution be found. I want to assure World Athletics that sooner rather than later, the government will have made a breakthrough in this war. We want the athletes to make a living devoid of using banned substances,” said Namwamba.

He hinted that there is a multi-agency rapid response team in place to ensure that doping cases do not occur on the part of Kenyan athletes taking part either in local or global meetings.

The CS also said he was going to start engaging all stakeholders to unlock the crisis to the satisfaction of the global athletics governing body. He pointed out that Kenya being banned was out of the question given the tremendous steps being taken by the ministry to end doping.

Namwamba warned those perpetrating the vice, saying their days are numbered while thanking President William Ruto’s government for prioritizing anti-doping efforts by the ministry.

“My ministry wants to get to the bottom of this doping crisis and if you know you have been taking part in helping athletes partake in performance-enhancing drugs, I have put you on notice. This also applies to traffickers of heroin, cocaine and other hard drugs,” said Namwamba.