Kenya is on a knife edge and risks becoming a pariah in the world of athletics.
Widespread doping scandals involving Kenyan athletes that have left the country on the world list shame necessitated the strictures Athletics Kenya placed for the Budapest World Championships Trials.
The federation has had to ruthlessly apply rule 15 of the World Anti-Doping Code which requires athletes to go through three tests, one of which must be an out-of-competition test, in order to qualify for the trip to World Championships.
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The two-time Olympic champion hopes that her journey will be an inspiration to other women who are in the sport and that they can also live normal lives.
“The reason why we have all these restrictions is because we are on the world list and we have to adhere to rule 15 by WADA. We have been affected by the doping scandals and for us to continue participating in international events, we have to adhere to some regulations.
Any athlete who was selected to participate in the trials will be required to go through three tests with one being an out-of-competition test which is compulsory. For AK to select and make sure that the athletes are clean to compete, we have to make sure that athletes have met all the primary requirements.
The athletes must have a minimum of one out-of-competition test to enter the trials. The athlete must have met the qualifying standards of World Athletics but that’s not a primary requirement,” Barnaba Korir explained
He added that athletes are still allowed to qualify for the World Championships after the trials but if they are to compete in the global showpiece, they need to have met the requirements by WADA.
“There is still an opportunity for those athletes who haven’t hit the qualifying times but they should have met the primary rule. If they make the team, they will be tested between the time they qualify and the World Championships so they can meet all the requirements,” he said.
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He added that if an athlete is selected and they have not met the primary standards, they will not be selected for the World Championships.
“Outside the conditions, the athletes won’t be allowed to compete and even if they do, they will not be selected for the World Championships. I few fail to follow the rules, then definitely we are going to be kicked out,” he said.