Athletics Kenya, World Athletics partner to enhance road runners' dope testing

04 Septembre 2020

Nairobi, Kenya, September 4 (Infosplusgabon) - Athletics Kenya (AK) is working with World Athletics in increasing testing of Kenyan road runners following partial relaxation of coronavirus-fighting measures by the global athletics body.

In a press statement on Friday, AK says road running was one of the athletics events adversely affected by the outbreak of the killer disease earlier in the year

''This has also had an impact on the fight against doping. Testing activities have been reduced due to the lockdown measures in many countries including Kenya, AK said.

Improvements have been seen in many countries in recent months and World Athletics has announces resumption of its label Road races.

Following the development, AIU, the anti-doping unit of World Athletics, is increasing testing activities.

AIU is going to organize a number of group testing sessions specifically for road runners golabally.

In Kenya, the sessions will be held at a number of locations during September.

The activity is a part of the AIU’s Road Running Integrity Programme which involves top road runners over the marathon,half marathon and long distances.

The group testing sessions will include some advance – notice testing, where the main focus will be on building the profiles of athletes for the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programme.

Outside of the top 40 road runners, the vast majority of the road runners have never been previously part of the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and therefore rarely – if ever – been subject to any testing including the ABP programme.

The activity will be organized directly by the AIU in co-operation with their partners, which include the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) among other sample collecting agencies.

Athletics Kenya is providing them with all the required logistical support for a smooth and safe conduct of these activities in line with health guidelines of the government.

AK re-affirmed its 100 percent commitment to supporting the AIU in its aim of protecting the integrity of athletics.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/ASX/GABON2020

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