AK very serious with anti-doping, says Kirwa ahead of AK trials

Compliance with the Athletics Integrity Unit’s anti-doping requirements will be Athletics Kenya’s main point of reference when selecting Team Kenya for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August, coach Julius Kirwa has said.

Kirwa observed that Kenya is still in Category ‘A’ of the AIU (federations deemed to have the highest doping risk and considered as a threat to the overall integrity of the sport) and AK will follow all the laid down procedures when naming the national team.

“Anti-doping is our biggest worry as we head for the trials. We have tried all we can to ensure that those picked for Budapest are fully compliant,” said Kirwa ahead of the national trials on Friday at Nyayo Stadium.

He said athletes invited but not compliant will have to sign a declaration form, excluding themselves from Team Kenya affairs once the trials are over.

“We have demanded all the invited athletes to ensure they pick their bib numbers by themselves (on Thursday). This will offer us a chance to interrogate their anti-doping compliance. A decision on their Team Kenya involvement will be made from this information, especially if they finish among the top two in their respective events,” Kirwa said.

Key among the requirements is ensuring a minimum of three no-notice out-of-competition tests for all athletes who may be on the national team in the 10 months prior to the 2023 World Championships.

This shall be in strict accordance with the terms of Article 15.5.1 (c) of the World Athletics rules which states: "Unless otherwise approved by the AIU in exceptional circumstances, no athlete may participate as part of a national team of a Category ‘A’ member federation in World Athletics Championships or Olympic Games unless, in the 10 months prior to the competition, they have undergone at least three no notice out-of-competition tests (urine and blood) including (if they compete in any of a middle distance event from 800m upwards, a long distance event, a combined event or a race walk event) at least one Athlete Biological Passport test and one EPO test."

"All such tests are to be conducted under the authority of an Anti-Doping Organisation no less than three weeks apart and the results recorded by the relevant entity in ADAMS."

Kirwa also emphasised the need to get things right if the country is to strike titles in the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

“We have some problems in some events, and you know it,” said Kirwa. “We have to get it right especially in 5,000m and 10,000m. We will have to work as a team. We know we have some very good athletes but we will have to motivate them even as we work on their weaknesses in training. Teamwork will be key.”

Regarding the strict 1-2, plus a panel of selectors’ pick criteria for selecting Team Kenya, Kirwa said: "Rules are rules."

“We cannot please everyone. In addition, that decision was reached after thorough consultations,” he said.

Kirwa highlighted Beatrice Chebet’s inclusion in Team Kenya at the World Cross Country Championships as a perfect example. Chebet was unwell during the national trials at Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru and failed to finish among the top six athletes.

However, she was drafted into the team and delivered the world title in Bathurst, Australia on February 18.

“We have two sets of athletes to think about,” Kirwa said. “There are athletes who are masters of one-day meets and there are others who can go for days in a championship.”

Meanwhile, Kirwa said their plans for the marathoners remain unchanged. “We are going to let them continue training on their own even when the rest of the team embark on residential training,” he said.

“We want minimum interruptions to their (marathoners) training and all we will do is monitor their progress and offer guidance. We intend to let this be until departure time.”