Kenya approved the anti-doping law imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) well ahead of the May 2 deadline. President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the legislation on April 22 to prevent the threat of Kenya's ban from the Rio Olympics.
According to New Vision, Kenyatta said, "I am confident that WADA will look upon the passage of our anti-doping law favorably as a sign of our unwavering commitment to meeting the highest international standards.
The president added, "I want to urge our athletes and sportsmen and women to hold themselves to the highest possible code of conduct." The decision to pass the new law to seeks to avoid the ban of Kenyan athletes from joining events in the Rio Olympics to kick off on August 5, 2016.
Kenya is currently on the doping watch-list of countries that may possibly breach the WADA code as it was rife with athletic doping cases in the previous years. The new development comes after Kenya lawmakers missed two deadlines levied by the WADA on February 11 and April 5 to combat cheating in the sport.
According to BBC, more than 40 Kenyan athletes failed numerous drug tests since 2011. Isaac Mwangi, Kenya's athletics federation general manager, was also suspended for six months in February. Kenyatta addressed the issue saying, "I know that the few cases of cheating we have encountered in the past are not a reflection on the integrity of all our athletes."
The new anti-doping legislation criminalizes the use of drugs and will allow the Kenyan national anti-doping agency to operate. It imposes a $1000 fine and or a one year prison sentence for any athlete convicted of doping.
According to Reuters, WADA's independent Compliance Review Committee is set to meet in Montreal on May 12 to review Kenya's case. WADA said in a statement, "We understand from media reports that there has been some progress with Kenya's anti-doping bill. Unless (the Compliance Review Committee) deem that the bill, policy and ADAK rules are formally adopted by that date then they will recommend to the WADA Foundation Board that the Kenyan NADO (national anti-doping organization) should be declared non-compliant."
Kenya earned seven gold medals at the latest 2015 World Championships in Beijing. The country is well-renowned for athletic excellence in distance-running. Kenyan athletes have been awarded 86 Olympic medals in total with 25 of them gold.
