The rising cases of doping involving the use of banned steroid triamcinolone acetonide in Kenya has sparked huge concern following the latest suspensions of two of the country’s marathoners by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
Brett Clothier, head of the AIU, called for the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to be adequately funded to contain the menace that puts Kenya at risk.
Clothier noted that investigating was an important part of their work and they had stepped up efforts to catch drug cheats.
“We are getting much, much better at catching athletes and there is really nowhere to hide. Sadly, there is no getting around that there is a lot of doping in Kenya, it’s a very serious issue and this is a very serious moment for Kenyan athletics,” he told local television on Tuesday.
2021 Boston Marathon women’s champion Diana Chemtai Kipyokei and her compatriot Betty Wilson Lempus were provisionally suspended on October 21 after returning Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) that pointed to the use of the synthetic glucocorticoids substances – triamcinolone acetonide – that act as potent, banned steroids which help reduce inflammation in the body and treat articular sprains, pain, and injuries.
Kenya has seen over 20 athletes provisionally suspended or banned for Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) or subverting the anti-doping process in 2022 alone, with 10 of those returning AAFs of triamcinolone acetonide in their system between 2021 and this year.
Interestingly, the AIU noted that within the same period in athletics globally, there have been just two positive triamcinolone acetonide AAFs for athletes from all other countries and regions, and in Kenya’s case, only three runners tested positive for the drug between 2017 and 2020.
The local federation announced on Tuesday that they are monitoring keenly and moving swiftly to address the shocking cases involving what is becoming the substance of choice for the country’s drug cheats.
“Athletics Kenya (AK) is currently doing everything possible to unearth the perpetrators of the doping vice. We remain committed to playing our part to ensure doping is a thing of the past by fully cooperating with the AIU, World Athletics and ADAK in investigations,” AK said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
AK said it has in the past week undertaken a countrywide initiative to meet various coaches and athletes with the aim of equipping them with skills and knowledge that will aid in the fight against doping.
“We take great exception to the recent spate of doping offenses involving Kenyan athletes and note with deep regret that this year alone, up to 25 athletes have been banned for violating anti-doping rules and regulations,” it added.
It said it has also put in place stringent measures to prevent athletes from falling prey to unscrupulous coaches and managers.
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