As Kenya intensifies its fight against doping, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya has cited supplements as a big headache for both the agency and sportspersons.
Among some of the Kenyan athletes under investigation, suspended, or banned, supplements have dominated the conversation as a major reason for their adverse findings.
“Kenya is an unregulated market when it comes to supplements which means anything goes,” said Martin Yauma, ADAK head of education and research.
“Unfortunately, there are a lot of risks involved in using them and we are asking our athletes to simply keep off. We have had several incidences of athletes testing positive for prohibited substances after using supplements and it is now a worrying trend.”
“We have had athletes like Boniface Mweresa, Mark Otieno, Ferdinand Omanyala among others who have used these supplements not knowing that they are laced with prohibited substances only to be shocked when cited for anti-doping rule violations,” said Yauma, adding that supplements are usually popular with track and field athletes, especially sprinters, as well as rugby players.
However, Yauma said not all the supplements have traces of the listed substances but he still advocates for total refrain.
Meanwhile, Yauma revealed that the agency is using Artificial Intelligence to detect violations through a system provided by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
But, he said, all these processes will only bear fruits if there are combined efforts among the various stakeholders including athletes, athlete personnel, federations, medical practitioners and doping control institutions.
He also revealed that erythropoietin (EPO), steroids, norandrosterone, triamcinolone acetonide, salbutamol and trimetazidine are among the most abused substances.
“We want to partner with pharmacists, associations and institutions in gathering and sharing of information to help in capacity-building,” said Yauma.
And in addition to testing, he said, Adak are still keen on education, especially among the young and upcoming sportspersons through value-based education.
“We are working with schools through the Ministry of Education to ensure that pupils are educated about doping and its effects and what to do to in cultivating a successful sporting career,” he said.