World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has lauded Kenya’s resolute efforts in the fight against doping, acknowledging the country’s significant strides in enforcing clean sport policies.
During a courtesy visit to Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya at Talanta Plaza on Tuesday, Coe expressed confidence in Kenya’s progress, citing the pivotal role of Athletics Kenya (AK) and the government in combating doping. He also noted the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) endorsement of the country’s efforts.
“The AIU, which independently manages our global testing programs, is satisfied with the progress Kenya has made. The financial support from the Kenyan government has been instrumental in driving these efforts forward,” Coe stated.
Despite Kenya’s long-standing dominance in global athletics, the nation remains under Category A—countries with the highest risk of doping violations. For the past eight years, Kenya has intensified anti-doping measures, implementing stricter regulations to combat the crisis.
Beyond doping, Coe also addressed the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in sports, emphasizing athletics’ role in raising awareness and driving change.
“Gender-based violence remains a significant challenge. While it extends beyond sports, athletics provides a powerful platform to confront and address this issue,” Coe remarked.
CS Mvurya reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to both anti-doping initiatives and athlete protection. He highlighted Kenya’s continued investment of $5 million (Ksh 650 million) annually to bolster anti-doping efforts, including athlete education, testing, and investigations.
“We remain dedicated to allocating resources every year to enhance awareness, compliance, and testing for our athletes,” Mvurya stated.
On the GBV front, the CS outlined the government’s proactive measures, including the establishment of a specialized secretariat led by a CEO to address gender-based violence within the sports sector.
Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei and Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum also attended the meeting, reinforcing Kenya’s collective resolve to uphold integrity in athletics.
