Why Kenya is betting on technology to clean up its athletics scene

Kenya's Integrated Athlete Management System aims to combat doping through nationwide registration, strengthening athlete oversight and anti-doping measures.

Doping is a problem that has haunted Kenya's athletics reputation for years, but officials now believe that a new registration system could be the turning point.

The ongoing athlete registration drive, under the Integrated Athlete Management System (IAMS), is being hailed as a breakthrough in efforts to eliminate the scourge of doping that has placed Kenya in Category A of countries where the vice is rampant.

Athletics Kenya (AK) is spearheading the initiative in collaboration with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), aiming to develop an airtight system to relegate doping to history.

Barnaba Korir, an AK executive committee member, stated that the new system would serve as the backbone of Kenya’s anti-doping efforts.

“You know as the president (Lt Gen (Rtd) Jack Tuwei) had said, we are in Category A, and that is not a good thing. AIU have been helping us develop structures to ensure that we completely eradicate matters of doping.

They have given us officials who have been going around the country to help us, and they will be with us for the next five years after which hopefully, we will have solid systems to fight this vice,” Korir said in an interview with Athletics Kenya.

The national registration drive, which began on July 20, has already covered key training hubs across the country, including Eldoret, Kapsabet, Kaptagat, Kitale, Keringet, Kericho, Bomet, Kisii, Kisumu, Mumias, Nyahururu, Nyeri, and Machakos.

According to Korir, the program is nearing its conclusion with Nairobi and Ngong' as the final destinations.

“They have done extremely well to go around the country and register as many athletes as possible. I am happy to report that we have so far registered 7,000 athletes from around the country and we are continuing to do the same. We want to have a broad-based database of Kenyan athletes to enable us to provide services efficiently,” Korir added.

The registration drive aims to create a comprehensive database of athletes, coaches, and support staff, allowing for smoother and more effective service provision.

This includes easier access to supporting documents for visa applications, more streamlined registration for international competitions, and a more robust anti-doping testing regime.

Crucially, it will also give authorities the tools to track athletes' movements and training environments, making it harder for doping practices to go unnoticed.

For Kenya, a country that has long prided itself on its athletic prowess, the Category A classification has been a source of embarrassment.

The designation means that Kenyan athletes are viewed with increased suspicion at international events, with more stringent anti-doping measures applied to them compared to athletes from other countries.

This has put the country in the same league as notorious doping offenders, a situation that both Athletics Kenya and the AIU are determined to change.

Athletics Kenya believes that with a reliable database and increased transparency, athletes will be more accountable, and cheating will become far more difficult.

By ensuring that all athletes are part of a formal system, authorities can ensure that random testing is conducted fairly and frequently, targeting both elite and grassroots athletes.

With 7,000 athletes already registered and more expected in the final phase, the Integrated Athlete Management System could indeed be the silver bullet Kenya needs to finally defeat the doping crisis that has plagued its athletes for years.