Moses Kiptanui Confirms Kenyan Doping Allegations

The former 3000m steeplechase world champion, Moses Kiptaniu, confirms that there is a widespread use of illegal drugs in Kenya. In an interview with BBC’s John Nene, Kiptaniu explains that he has had conversations with banned Kenyan athlete, Mathew Kisorio, concerning information about the use of drugs among the Kenyan athletes.

Kiptaniu said, “... Matthew Kisorio had admitted and has been banned. And he has come out very clearly that he used the drugs and used with the knowledge of very few people within [Kenya]. And I understand he gave out a list of athletes who use these banned substances.”

Kisorio was a former African junior champion at 5000m and 10000m before testing positive for an anabolic steroid after the Kenyan championships last June.

Kiptaniu added, “He also took them to the place where they later used the drug... Somewhere in Naiobi. But nobody has been suspended and nobody has been prosecuted. No investigation has taken place...”

Listen to the full interview below (via BBC World Service Radio)

8 comments

Andrew Alexander 3 months ago

I am always reminded ... and I might say haunted ... by a very wise saying we were always reminded of in my youth ... it goes like this ... Half of what we see is just illusion and most of what we hear/read is not the truth. We always celebrate the kindness of the Native Americans in saving the Plymoth Rock colonist ... We never mention that those same colonist would then murder and pillage the very same folks who save them from starvation ... Half of what we see is just illusion and most of what we hear/read is not the truth.

@ MikeyB: You previously stated that "Bernard Lagat has been getting a free pass for a long time". Now you cite a 2003 report out of Kenya. Now which is it ... Are you saying that the USADA is providing aid, comfort, and cover to Bernard Lagat, or are you attempting to smear someone whom the USADA has consistently found to be clean ... Do you know something that might educate the rest of us because Mr. Lagat is not the first athlete to have failed an A sample and passed a B sample ... As far as I know ... And I've been the subject of many urine & blood test ... Both samples come from the same batch ... So are you saying that Bernard Lagat is currently being passed over by the USADA? Because the very ruthless USADA is the oversight authority for Bernard Lagat? What is your evidence that Bernard Lagat is a cheat? ... I can see however where a federation, irate that one of its stars has taken up legal permanent residency in a foreign country ... a precursor to citizenshp [note that in most cases, for US Citizenship, a legal residency must be served for 5 consecutive years] ... would seek to undermine the athlete's application for Foreign Citizenship ... Has that thought ever crossed your brain as your sought to disparage Mr. Lagat? Is there any record of Mr. Lagat having failed a USADA supervised and administered Blood & Urine Test? ... Think long and hard about your response MikeyB.

MikeyB 3 months ago

Bernard Lagat Tests Positive for EPO
September 3, 2003
The Daily Nation newspaper in Kenyan reported late yesterday that Bernard Lagat, the #2 fastest ever at 1500m tested positive for the performance enhancing drug EPO prior to the World Championships. Lagat pulled out of the World Championships with an unknown stomach ailment that apparently was a charade adopted by the Kenyan Federation in order not to diminish the morale of the rest of the Kenyan team. In the middle of the world champs, Lagat was ordered out of the Kenyan camp for unspecified reasons at the time. To read the full report on the positive test by the Daily Nation click here.

Lagat did fail a drug test and it was covered up and swept under the rug. Later he passed the B sample. Whether his 08 performances are associated with a "clean" Lagat, I'm not sure of that

@ MikeyB: Bernard Lagat is an American. I don't think the US Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] is willing to give a pass to anyone ... Recall Lance Armstrong. Also, please recall that the Kenyans on many occasions attempted to inflict career ending injuries upon Bernard Lagat once he became an American Citizen; Bernard Lagat is one of the last persons that federations like the Kenyan Federation would want to get "A Pass" ... Nope ... USADA is proving to be a no-nonsense oversight board ... Lagat is clean ... And to make such a statement would open you up to serious libel charges.

Bernard Lagat one of their boys has been getting "free pass" for a long long time. Lagat equals Armstrong - but people just don't want to believe it.....even with postive drug in the pass!

I think it's incorrect to say "They" only seem to want to catch Americans. I believe the US Anti-Doping Agency is at the forefront of the struggle to limit/prevent the use of PED(s), and as a result, cheats in the United States are more apt to get caught. The problem is that we need to continuously expose those federations / governing authorities that fail to take responsibility for governance.

Jay Peitzer 3 months ago

They only seem to want to catch Americans.

Is anyone surprised ... My only surprise is that it took so long for a Top Kenyan to be exposed and subsequently confess ... The Anti-Doping agencies need to redouble their efforts so that clean and talented competitors can reap the rewards of their hard work.

Moses Kiptanui Confirms Kenyan Doping Allegations

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