NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 26 – Kenya’s quest to combat doping has been handed a shot in the arm after the Senate called for a special sitting December 29 to discuss the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2020.
Kenya has been trying to fight doping but it has ben a tall order because there is no stern punishment that guarantees the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and relevant federation to take action against dopers.
But if the Senate passes the Amendment Bill on Tuesday, then there will be hope to deal with the menace.
Part of the Amendment Bill that was proposed by Ministry of Sports through the Senate National Assembly Majority Leader, Amos Kimunya will see the introduction of criminalizing doping, something that will scare athletes who cheat.
“Notice is given to all Senators that pursuant to standing order 30 of the Senate Standing Orders, on the request of the Senate Majority Leader, with the support of the requisite number of Senators, I have appointed Tuesday, 29th December, 2020 as a day for a special sitting of the Senate,” the gazette notice issued December 26 by Senate Speaker, Kenneth Lusaka, announced.
“The sitting shall be held in the Senate Chamber, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, commencing at 10.00 a.m. The business to be transacted at the sitting shall be the consideration of the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bills No. 51 of 2020.”
Among the clauses to be amended from the Anti-Doping Act 2016 is clause 18 of the Bill proposes to amend section 28 of the Act to provide for the use of samples and related analytical data collected from athletes, the laboratories that can test athletes and the submission of all test samples to the Agency
Also proposed to be amended is clause 23 of the Bill proposes to amend section 41B of the Act morder to provide for the responsibility of sports federation m enforcing the Anti-Doping Rules within the Federations.
2017 world champion in 1500m, Elijah Manangoi is the latest elite Kenyan athlete to be banned by the Integrity Athletics Unit (AIU), joining a list of Kenyan athletes who have been sanctioned in recent years, including former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang, 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, 2017 London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru, former Boston and Chicago Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo and 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong.
