NAIROBI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- World Athletics President Sebastian Coe on Wednesday expressed confidence in Kenya's anti-doping efforts, commending the country's government for its fresh commitment to a 5 million U.S. dollar annual investment to combat the doping menace in the sport.
Coe was speaking in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, when he paid a courtesy call to the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya and other top officials in his docket, discussing the ongoing fight in the anti-doping space, which the Kenyan government had been so supportive of.
"The very prominent challenge is gender-based violence, not entirely or uniquely linked to sport, but recognizing that we can use sport as a way of raising the profile of this challenge," the athletics chief told reporters.
His remarks come as the East African distance running powerhouse continues to experience the most suspensions in athletics.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the world governing body's independent anti-doping body, has already banned two and suspended three Kenyan athletes for use of prohibited substances so far this year.
The exposure increased greatly when the Kenyan government agreed to fund anti-doping to 5 million dollars annually for five years in 2023.
However, it cut off the funding due to the youth-led protests that rocked the nation in June last year against tax increases proposed by the government in the Finance Bill of 2024.
On his part, Mvurya reaffirmed that the government would implement the funding pledge to combat doping made by President William Ruto when he met Coe during his previous visit to the country in January, 2023.
"We have remained committed to ensuring that we avail resources every year to strengthen sensitization and testing of athletes and also to do investigations, as well as making sure that we create awareness for compliance for every athlete," the minister added.
On the issue of gender-based violence the minister also briefed the athletics chief on the measures the country is taking to deal with the issue.
"The government of Kenya has rolled out gender-based violence efforts in sports, and right now we have a whole secretariat headed by a CEO who has made a lot of progress," Mvurya remarked.
The two parties promised to work closely to maintain Kenya's strong reputation on the global stage of running and winning clean elections.
Coe is one of the seven candidates running for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee next month. ■
