Seb Coe speaks on Kenya's doping battle – Progress or false hope?

Seb Coe speaks on Kenya's doping battle Image source: Imago

Seb Coe speaks on Kenya's doping battle – Progress or false hope?

Abigael Wafula 21:47 - 10.03.2025

Seb Coe acknowledges Kenya’s progress in the fight against doping but remains cautious about declaring victory.

World Athletics president Seb Coe has remained vague on whether Kenya is winning the fight against doping but expressed some level of optimism with how things are progressing.

Kenya is currently in Category A and was on the verge of being banned by World Athletics following the rise in doping cases. However, the government, through President William Ruto intervened and pledged to support the Anti-doping Agency of Kenya.

President Ruto promised to set aside Sh650m annually for five years to help in the fight against doping and as things stand, Seb Coe revealed that he is pleased with the progress.

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However, he noted that winning might be a strong word and insisted that there will never be an entirely clean sport since there are people who never intend to follow rules and would rather engage in such rogue activities.

“I’m not sure I actually like talking about whether we are winning or losing, what I can tell you is that we are moving in the right direction,” Seb Coe revealed during a press conference at Riadha House in Nairobi, Kenya.

“I would love to tell you as president of World Athletics that one day we shall have a drug-free performance, a drug-free landscape but I have to be realistic, there are always going to be a few people with whatever systems you have in place, who choose to step beyond the rules of the sport and moral boundaries.”

The International Olympic Committee presidential candidate lauded the efforts by the Athletics Integrity Unit in curbing the doping menace.

He revealed that the AIU has been very helpful in addressing the issue in Kenya while acknowledging that it is not something that will take a day or two to be completely dealt with.

“That is not unique to sports, that is normal in any other activity. However, we now have systems in place and the engagement of the AIU and I believe we are moving in the right direction. This is not a war that is going to be won overnight, there are going to be issues along the way,” he said.

Currently, countries in Category A include Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine. Seb Coe believes that just like Morocco, Kenya has all it takes to exit the danger zone.