NAIROBI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is casting its nets wider in the fight against doping and has now incorporated football players in their sensitization campaign ahead of the visit by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Thursday.
Anti-Doping Association of Kenya (ADAK) has since, rolled out anti-doping sensitization workshops for the country's second tier team known as the National Super League.
The workshops, which are mandatory to all will see players taken through anti-doping rules violations, the Doping Control Process as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Prohibited List.
"We are aiming at sharing information about anti-doping with the players so as to sensitize them on what to do and what not to, in regards to the use of prohibited substances," said ADAK educator Tim Ngugi.
Kenya has dominated the athletics sport and also has many of her runners banned for doping. Over 50 athletes have been suspended by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from Kenya in the last decade for cheating.
Currently, Kenya, Ethiopia, Belarus and Ukraine constitute the current watch list of Category 'A', which includes the members most at risk of doping. Now ADAK in a bid to act proactively is incorporating football players in the exercise, which aims to have the country sportsmen compete clean.
Julius Muteti, a midfield player with Administration Police said he had learnt a lot in the exercise.
"It has been an eye-opener. I have learnt a lot about what I should and should not use and I am optimistic that it will go a long way in keeping us players clean for the good of the sport," he said.
Category A and B federations will be required to ensure athlete drug-testing plans are submitted to the IAAF before each World Championships or Olympic Games.
Under this system, the AIU will have the responsibility for monitoring and reporting breaches, but the IAAF Council will determine any sanctions.
ADAK will on Thursday and Friday take part of the WADA 'Kenya Project' meeting which brings together AIU agents and other agencies involved in the fight against doping in sport.
" We are pleased to join our partner WADA for this exercise," said ADAK.
