Health first: Kenyan athletes urged to put wellness ahead of medals

Kenyan athletes have been urged to prioritize healthcare, proper nutrition and safe medical practices to promote longer careers and reduce the risk of anti-doping violations.

The call came at the conclusion of a three-day Medically Fit Symposium organized by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), which brought together medical experts, coaches, sports administrators and other stakeholders to strengthen athlete health and welfare systems in the country.

Held under the theme “Strengthening Integrated Athlete Health and Welfare Systems in Kenya,” the symposium focused on improving systems that support athletes throughout their sporting journey — from training and competition to recovery and rehabilitation.

NOC-K Medical Commission chairman Dr. Titus Mutwiri said the discussions examined the importance of early intervention, injury prevention and coordinated medical support in safeguarding athletes’ health.

For coaches and sports administrators, he said, the focus was on ensuring athlete welfare remains central to sports development and high-performance programmes.

“This is the first time we are having such a discourse. We brought together medical doctors of different specializations, nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, conditioning coaches and even medical scientists,” said Dr. Mutwiri.

“These teams have never worked together in the past, and so this is an immense opportunity that we have missed for a long time. But now we have got it right, and we want to work together continually for the betterment of the Kenyan athlete,” he added.

Hockey coach Meshack Senge, who attended the symposium, said athletes must also take greater responsibility for their health while continuing to promote clean sport and protect Kenya’s reputation on the international stage.

“The core function is to support the athlete because they are at the centre of all this, and now we have agreed that we have to start early so that we support the athlete better.

“I think with this kind of awareness and mindset, we should be able to move a few clicks ahead,” said Senge.

The symposium comes as Kenya continues to strengthen athlete welfare and medical support across sporting disciplines.

For a country whose international sporting success has been heavily driven by athletics, experts say protecting athletes’ health and promoting clean sport are essential to sustaining careers, performances and Kenya’s reputation in global competition.