Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala has claimed that majority of local athletes are naive about the doping menace and they fall easily into the trap unknowingly.
Omanyala argued that some athletes self-medicate to relieve pain after training, not knowing what the drugs contain. As a result, some find themselves on the wrong end of anti-doping.
“I think a larger percentage of athletes are not to blame. The majority are unaware of what medication they should use and what to avoid whenever they experience pain. They too are humans and they do what others do, going to chemists to buy medication,” Omanyala said during the national trials on Saturday.
Omanyala clocked 9.86, the third fastest time this year, to book his slot at the World Championships set for August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.
“The young and upcoming runners, especially in the rural areas, are the most affected since they are not exposed. They also lack management that can guide them and as a result, they do what needs to be done to release their pain,” he added.
“Athletes also buy supplements from companies that produce drugs containing banned substances. They do this unknowingly and going forward there is need for education about drug manufacturing companies. With better education from a tender age, we can reduce cases of athletes paying for mistakes they did unknowingly.”
Kenya is still under the watch of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to the rising number of doping cases in the country. Over 50 athletes — mainly distance runners, have been suspended by AIU for various violations in a crisis that has tarnished the athletics powerhouse.
The latest to be suspended is Titus Ekiru, the sixth fastest marathoner in history, who now faces a 10-year ban due to the presence of prohibited substances (Triamcinolone Acetonide and metabolite; Pethidine and metabolite).
After being suspended for 14 months for an ADRV in 2017, Omanyala said he has buried that in the past and is now focused on the future.
“Despite all that is happening around doping in Kenya, I will be under no pressure to prove anything in Budapest. I will just run my race and enjoy what am doing now. What happened in the past is gone. I want to secure the future of my children and inspire upcoming sprinters,” the 27-year old pointed out.
He targets to be the first African to win gold in the 100m race at the World Championships.
