Kenya gets tough on doping

Kenyan athletics chief Isaiah Kiplagat has revealed that agents or coaches could be banned for life and even face prison sentences if their athletes are found guilty of doping.

Kiplagat, the president of governing body Athletics Kenya, announced new measures in a bid to combat the use of banned sub stances.

Kenya has been hit by a spate of positive drug tests, and there has been criticism not enough has been done to address the problem.

“If an athlete is found culpable, they will be banned in accordance with the new rules – which extend to four years,” Kiplagat said yesterday.

“Agents will also be removed and they must be sanctioned.

“In fact for agents it’s easier, because if you’re the one who injected or found to have been contributing towards persuading the athletes to take banned substances, that’s a criminal offence.

“While athletes can be banned for four years, agents can go to jail,” he added.