Kenya Faces New Allegations in Drug Cover-Ups

Kenya Faces New Allegations in Drug Cover-Ups

Nov 16, 2015 by Taylor Dutch
Kenya Faces New Allegations in Drug Cover-Ups



Kenya received a total of 16 medals at the 2015 World Championships, the most of any country. 

Russia is not the only country facing an in-depth investigation since the World Anti-Doping Agency’s extensive report. Athletics Kenya faces allegations as well after a coach claimed three marathon runners paid bribes to the national track federation in exchange for lenient doping bans. 
 
According to a report by The Associated Press, Paul Simbolei said that he informed police about the bribes and that he has been receiving threats since going to the authorities with the allegations. 
 
Simbolei coaches in the popular high altitude training town of Iten, Kenya, and declined to name the runners associated with the allegations, telling The AP that he feared for his safety. 
 
In a report published by The Sunday Times, the coach said that he had been told by police that his life could be in danger after he made allegations of a larger doping cover-up to German broadcaster ARD. 
 
ARD produced the famous doping documentary which aired in December 2014, and a second documentary which was broadcasted last August. The documentaries investigated systematic doping practices in both Russia and Kenya, suggesting distance running has been contaminated by cheating. 
 
Simbolei claimed that the Kenyan track officials ask for a share of race winnings, “or else they will expose you for cheating.”
 
As a country, Kenya earned a total of 16 medals at the 2015 World Championships in August, the most of any country at the championship. Two Kenyan sprinters actually tested positive during the World Championships. Koki Manunga and Joyce Zakary accepted provisional suspensions after positive drug tests, which were conducted prior to the World Championships. The tests took place in Beijing on August 20th and 21st prior to the runners’ 400m performances.

The country is already facing doping allegations after an Athletics Kenya official, who sits on the IAAF board, embezzled sponsorship money. David Okeyo, one of the IAAF council members is said to have embezzled around $700,000 from the Athletics Kenya federation accounts. Some of the sponsorship money came from Nike. 

Okeyo addressed the allegations to AIPS Media, saying that that allegations were made by a disgruntled former employee.

“The said contract was above board and was executed with integrity. There was no embezzlement of funds by the Secretary General as alleged at all. The funds are fully accounted for by Athletics Kenya and approved by the Annual General Meeting having gone through the auditing process,” Okeyo said.
 
The IAAF addressed the allegations against the Kenyan official with a response on IAAF.org. 
 
“The IAAF was not aware of the investigation into Mr. Okeyo in Kenya and the information has immediately been passed on to the independent IAAF Ethics Commission."

The IAAF itself is facing an investigation after former IAAF president Lamine Diack was arrested a week ago on charges of money-laundering and corruption. He was released on bail two days later, but remains under investigation by French authorities. 
 
Following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s extensive report on the Russian athletics federation, the IAAF Council was forced to call a meeting via teleconference to decide whether Russia should be suspended for WADA’s findings which revealed systematic “state-wide” doping. The Council voted 22-1 in favor of suspending Russia from all international events.