Kenya remains eligible for Olympics

Omnisports

May 13, 2016 2:25 AM

Despite seeing its anti-doping programme declared non-compliant, Kenya could still send athletes to the Olympics.

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Kenyan athletes remain eligible to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, despite major concerns over the country's anti-doping programme.

The African nation's drug-testing agency was declared non-compliant by WADA this week, with the IAAF re-affirming that Kenya remains on a "monitoring list".

"During the monitoring process... Kenyan athletes remain eligible to compete nationally and internationally," read an IAAF statement.

"As far as Kenya's participation is concerned across all sports at the Olympic Games in Rio, the IAAF notes that WADA has referred its decision on non-compliance to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UNESCO for their consideration and action."

In a statement to Omnisport, the IOC added: "A NADO [national anti-doping organisation] can be non-compliant for a number of reasons, there are currently a number of others in this position.

"It does not mean that the athletes will be stopped from participating in the Olympic Games.

"WADA and the international federations are taking extra measures to make sure that all athletes are properly tested.

"It will of course be discussed at the next executive board of the IOC."

Kenya missed two deadlines imposed by WADA to prove it had satisfied requirements to prove it is tackling doping.

It was hoped that a new anti-doping law passed by president Uhuru Kenyatta would end any fears that Kenyan athletes may be prevented from competing in Brazil.

The IAAF added that WADA's announcement represented "a further reflection of the IAAF’s concerns about the level of commitment to anti-doping at the national level in Kenya" and expressed hope that the country's anti-doping programme is "significantly strengthened by the end of the current year".

Omnisports

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