NAIROBI, Kenya, November 13 – The Government has pledged to assist Kenya Rugby Union and other federations to conduct doping tests at a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) certified laboratory in Qatar.
Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Arts, Dr. Hassan Wario announced the development Thursday when he met KRU officials led by chairman, Mwangi Muthee who took the chance to reiterate the Government-sponsored Anti-Doping Taskforce adverse findings on rugby and laboratories in which supplements used by the federation were found to contain steroids were not credible.
“KRU will credibly test food supplements used by our athletes to make sure they don’t contain substances banned by the Wada,” Wario declared.
Muthee who once again frayed the Prof. Moni Wekesa led taskforce was upbeat the State’s intervention would clear the tainted name of Kenya’s rugby.
“We are glad the Government has taken a grip of this matter. The Taskforce, for instance put into suspicion all modern nutrition methods required by the elite athletes. We were getting questions from all over the world regarding coaches of our past and present national teams.
“When you talk of consumption of food containing steroids, what do you really mean? Are they synthetic or natural? Did you know that even ordinary foods we consume every day like eggs contain steroids? Wada is specific on banned substances and we are committed to making sure that our rugby players do not use the banned substances,” the KRU boss charged.
He added: “Because of poor handling of this subject by the Taskforce, the damage caused to Kenya sport arising from unfair perception is too huge. I hope this Government intervention will start the healing from the hurt we are going through.”
Wario said Qatar is the latest country to join China and Norway Anti-Doping Agencies in helping Kenya set up the proposed Kenya Anti-Doping Agency by February next year.
The Government in collaboration with federations will begin countrywide sensitization on the dangers of doping next year in all sports disciplines.
“Athletes should win true using their prowess and abilities. We are planning to have an awareness to educate athletes on dangers of drug abuse that may terminate their career before it mature.”
