Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has described cases of doping by athletes from the country as troubling.
President Kenyatta said this on Saturday during the reopening of the Nyayo Stadium which has been under renovation and upgrading since 2017.
He also directed the sports ministry to enhance anti doping education among athletes.
“We have had the use of illicit products among our sportsmen. Even-though this cases are tiny, they are troubling,” he said. “Provide resources for enhanced anti-doping education, testing and reporting on a regular basis.”
The President said Kenya’s reputation has been built on a foundation of competing clean and winning fairly.
According to Kenyatta, Nyayo Stadium upgrade is not an isolated case and by next year Kenya Defence Forces will also have their own stadium in Langata.
He said the ministry should resume preparation for Olympics and Paralympics and coordinate on how athletes can resume competing abroad.
The Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Amina Mohammed, thanked the president for his support in making all the changes required for the stadium.
“The track is in good shape and we will put to test in a few days with the Kipkeino Classic,” she said. “Several international sports bodies have sent their representatives to inspect this facility (Nyayo Stadium) and have rated it among the best on the African continent. “
Amina said the World Athletics gave the 45,000-seat Nyayo National Stadium clean bill of health ahead of planned World Continental Tour dubbed Kip Keino Classic on October 3.
Nyayo Stadium was closed in 2017 for renovations to host the 2018 Africa Nations Championships (Chan), which was later moved to Morocco over unpreparedness.
The stadium was briefly opened to host a Kenyan Premier League match between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in August 2017 then closed again for renovation.
It was then partially reopened for Beyond Zero Half Marathon on March 8 and February 11 for former President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi’s state funeral.