Top guns welcome anti-doping move, AK invites 108 for seminar

Top athletes have welcomed the initiative taken by Athletics Kenya (AK) to involve the Kenyan Doctors Network in a bid to stem the spike in doping cases in the sport.

On Wednesday, AK named the first batch of 108 elite athletes who will attend an interactive forum in Eldoret on Monday at the Pearl Hotel where they will be taken through the action plan to curb the vice.

The federation has partnered with world governing body IAAF in an effort to remove Kenya from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) watch list.

Athletes speaking to Citizen Digital are hopeful that the initiative that will require them to be cleared by a team from KDN before competing in international events will help in eradicating doping.

London 2012 Olympics silver medallist and two-time world champion Abel Kirui and 2015 Chicago Marathon and winner Dickson Chumba welcomed the initiative.

Kirui who is eying victories at the April Virgin London Marathon and the World Championships in the same city in August hopes to learn a lot from the Eldoret seminar.

“I’m comfortable with the programme as long as the athletes can be reached on time. I hope that they will get the results soon and clear us early, so that it does not block us from going for our races.

“I urge fellow invited athletes to avail themselves so that we can learn more and benefit from the Network.  It’s for the good of the country and for the athletes,” the Chicago title holder said.

“Right now it’s training and training there is no need of talking too much since I shall be meeting track legend Kenenisa Bekele and others. I pray that I do not suffer from any injuries.

“I hope to have good training then we meet on the course and sweat it out as men,” Kirui said of his preparations for the London city marathon whose men’s field is headlined by the Ethiopian legend and Berlin titleholder.

Chumba is out to claim his Tokyo Marathon title last won on 2014 on February 26 and is keen on starting the season without worrying about the country attracting an international ban from competition over doping.

“It’s good that AK is keeping track of its athletes. The world will know that we do not need to dope to win. They will know that we are purely talented and be assured that our athletes compete clean and fair.

“I have a month to my race, so on Monday when they come, they can start with me. I know I’m clean and have nothing to hide. Though I do not know much about the Network, I hope we shall learn a lot and know what is expected of us and how to access the doctors,” Chumba who finished second to Kirui in Chicago underscored.

In 2016 the Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) was declared non compliant by WADA on May 12 before efforts spearheaded by the Government saw the decision rescinded on August 4, on the eve of the start of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games.

The Kenyan athletes went on to win six gold, six silver and a bronze in Brazil in a record performance for the quadrennial global sporting showpiece.

Suspended convicted drug cheat and former top female marathoner, Rita Jeptoo is also on the elite athletes list for the Monday seminar.

AK list of elite athletes invited for the Eldoret seminar

1. Eliud Kipchoge
2. Conseslus Kipruto
3. David Rudisha
4. Julius Yego
5. Boniface Mucheru
6. Vivian Cheruiyot
7. Jemimah Sumgong
8. Faith Chepng’etich
9. Rogers Kwemoi
10. Amos Kirui
11. Kipyegon Bett
12. Kumari Taki
13. Cellphine Chespol
14. Maureen Thomas
15. Emmaculate Chepkirui
16. Harun Koech,
17. Mike Mokamba
18. Maureen Jelagat
19. Ferguson Rotich
20. Asbel Kiprop
21. Timothy Cheruiyot
22. Margaret Nyairera
23. Emily Cherotich
24. Paul Tanui
25. Augustine Choge
26. Douglas Kipserem
27. Mangata Ndiwa
28. Hellen Obiri
29. Hyvin Kiyeng
30. Alice Aprot Nawowuna
31. Sheila Chepkirui
32. Matthew Sawe
33. Alex Kiprotich
34. Geoffrey Kamworor
35. Stanley Biwott
36. Cyprian Kotut
37. Florence Kiplagat
38. Visiline Jepkesho
39. Peris Jepchirchir
40. Mary Keitany
41. James Rungaru
42. Abel Kirui
43. Julius Arile Lamerinyang
44. Nicholas Bett
45. Jairus Kipchoge Birech
46. Wilson Chebet
47. Collins Cheboi
48. Stephen Chebogut
49. Stephen Chemlany
50. Joyce Chepkirui
51. Beatrice Chepkoech
52. Frankline Chepkwony
53. Selly Keptich Chepyego
54. Mercy Cherono
55. Gladys Cherono
56. Sharon Cherop
57. Flomena Cheyech Daniel
58. Dickson Kiptolo Chumba
59. Violah Jepchumba
60. Priscah Jeptoo
61. Lucy Wangui Kabuu
62. Ezekiel Kemboi
63. Viola Jelagat Kibiwot
64. Abraham Kibiwot
65. Dennis Kipruto Kimetto
66. Alfred Kipketer
67. Valentine Kipketer
68. Silas Kiplagat
69. Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat
70. Helah Kiprop
71. Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
72. Brimin Kiprop Kipruto
73. Eliud Kiptanui
74. Barnabas Kipyego
75. Sally Jepkosgei Kipyego
76. Michael Kipyego
77. Bernard Kipyego Kiprop
78. Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio
79. Sammy Kitwara
80. Paul Kipsiele Koech
81. Isaiah Kiplangat Koech
82. Bernard Koech
83. Micah Kogo
84. Wesley Korir
85. James Kwambai
86. Gilbert Kwemboi
87. Ronald Kwemoi
88. Alfers Lagat
89. Cynthia Limo
90. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa
91. Paul Kipchumba Lonyangata
92. Elijah Manangoi
93. Sammy Maswai
94. Bedan Karoki Muchiri
95. Emmanuel Mutai
96. Jonathan Muia Ndiku
97. Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku
98. Sammy Ndungu
99. Virginia Nyambura
100. Janet Rono
101. Caroline Rotich
102. Stephen Sambu
103. Rita Jeptoo Sitienei
104. William Sitonik
105. Peter Kimeli Some
106. Eunice Jepkoech Sum
107. Hillary Kipsang Yego
108. Solomon Yego