Kenyan courts and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) attempt to demonstrate seriousness in their efforts to stamp out Kenyan doping with the conviction of a dealer. But is it too little, too late? The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has threatened the Northeast African nation with sanctions to start in October.
Aman Malik
Aman Malik, a 19-year-old Indian athlete, has been criminally charged and convicted in a Kenyan court to serve three concurrent terms of three years each in prison.
He is also fined one million shillings. Malik has 14 days to appeal.
The substances are not yet disclosed; however, the courts will release the inventory of drugs he was dealing.
”The ruling sends a clear message that Kenya will not tolerate doping or the illegal handling of prohibited substances, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to clean and fair competition,” stated Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku.
Malik’s conviction comes at a time when Athletics Kenya and or ADAK have been accused of being in non-compliance with the WADA code. The country faces a national ban in early October. It is unknown if the arrest and pending deportation of Mr. Malik are a desperate posturing for WADA. Kenya made athlete doping a criminal activity in December 2019. Several other countries followed suit.
Is Kenya posturing?
Kenya has done nothing to remove street-side, walk-up pharmacies that unabashedly dispense performance-enhancing (PEDs) drugs without prescriptions. Kenya has done very little to stop its athletes from doping. In fact, the government reneged on a deal that it agreed to. It was to invest $5 million USD annually into anti-doping. The organization pulled back after one year. Kenya stopped the investment after the program exposed a very high level of doping. Additionally, no pharmacists have been jailed over the criminal activity of dealing PEDs. So far, no athletes, coaches or agents have been criminally tried.
“The sentencing reflects the seriousness with which Kenya treats offences related to doping, trafficking, and the handling of prohibited substances,” ADAK said in a statement, adding that the ruling “demonstrates that Kenya’s legal and regulatory frameworks are operational and effective in protecting clean athletes.”
Kenya was given 21 days from September 11 to respond to the notice. If not resolved, sanctions will start on October 2.
Kenya has had approximately 400 athletes suspended for doping-related offences since 2016. Some of the most high-profile athletes have been caught, including marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, who ran the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56.
