AK ordered to send Omanyala to Italy for Games

Athletics Kenya (AK) has been ordered by the Sports Disputes Tribunal to assist and facilitate Universities 100m national champion Ferdinand Omanyala for the World University Games slated for July 3-14 in Napoli , Italy.

The local athletics governing body has about five days before Omanyala’s event starts next week to comply with the Tribunal’s order.

It ordered AK fully , facilitate and help him get a visa and plane ticket for the Championships and also pay him allowances as he performs his national duties.

“I feel happy after the ruling , it not that I doped intentionally, it was a mistake that was done. I have already served my ban and do not feel it’s fair to lock me out from competing,”

“I was fighting to represent my country at the World University Championships and All African Games which I also qualified last month,” said Omanyala finished second (10.26) during last month’s trials.

The sprinter could hardly hide his joy after getting a second chance to represent the country at the biennial event , after suffering an injury during his debut back in 2017 and was forced to bow out in the heats level.

” The court case was distracting me but I intend to bring home the title and qualify for the IAAF World Championships later this year in Doha, Qatar,” Omanyala told Citizen Digital.

This comes days after AK president Lieutenant General (RTD) Jackson Tuwei said that once an athlete has tested positive for a banned substance they will not be allowed to represent the country at the international arena, during the All African Games held at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani, July 20.

Omanyala has served a 14-month ban after testing positive for diprofase a banned substance by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The 22 year old had qualified for the IAAF World Relay Athletics Championships , Yokahama, Japan ( May 11-12) but was kicked out of the team days before the competition for having a doping history.