NAIROBI: Athletics Kenya chiefs shrugged off warnings Thursday teams could be banned from the Rio Olympics if the federation is found to be non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
IAAF President Sebastian Coe warned on Thursday that he would ban Kenya’s athletics team from Rio if action was not taken, after Kenya missed a February 14 deadline.
Athletics Kenya acting President Jackson Tuwei said the country was on track after the formation of the Anti-Doping Association of Kenya (ADAK), and had been given a two-month extension to show it was doing its job.
“Athletics Kenya is working closely with ADAK, and since we have been given another two months we will work day and night to conform with the rules,” Tuwei said.
“It does not worry me now that we may face an Olympic ban, since ADAK is working out a policy bill which will be taken to parliament to be made into law. I am confident we will succeed.”
Kenya’s situation was worsened earlier this week when Athletics Kenya chief executive Isaac Mwangi stepped aside to allow a probe into allegations he sought bribes from two suspended athletes, claims he denies.
Coe confirmed he will severely punish any country guilty of attempting to cover up doping.
Many in Kenya fear doping is rife among their top-class runners, who have been the source of enormous national pride. More than 40 Kenyan athletes have been suspended for doping in the past two years.
Tuwei said the IAAF vice president Hamad Kalkaba Malboum is due to visit Kenya next week to inspect the preparations for the 2017 World Under-18 athletics championships.
The event, which will bring some 2,000 athletes and officials from 160 countries, will be held at the Kasarani stadium from July 11-16, 2017.
Diack’s son questioned
The son of former IAAF President Lamine Diack has been interrogated for more than seven hours by police in his native Senegal.
Papa Massata Diack, a former IAAF marketing consultant, is wanted for questioning by prosecutors in France in connection with the corruption scandal surrounding track and field’s world governing body.
He was banned for life from the sport last month in a bribery and extortion case involving Russian doping.
Diack’s lawyer, Bamba Cisse, says his client was summoned “for a fair hearing” at police headquarters in Dakar on Wednesday.
Diack arrived for questioning just after 4 p.m. and left at midnight without commenting.
Senegalese authorities have not said if they are pursuing charges against Diack. He and his father are both under investigation in France for extorting bribes from athletes to cover up doping.
Interpol has issued a wanted notice for Papa Massata Diack. Senegal says it will not extradite him.
