Athletics Kenya issues warning as AIU implements stricter out-of-competition testing
By Michael Kirwa |
Kenyan athletes aiming to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics must now undergo a minimum of three out-of-competition tests by July 4, 2024, or face exclusion
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced new and stringent additional out-of-competition testing requirements this week, causing concern among stakeholders in the athletics fraternity that some athletes may miss out on featuring at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games.
“Athletics Kenya (AK) wishes to inform all athletes that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has introduced new and stringent requirements of out-of-competition testing in the lead-up to this year’s Olympic Games in Paris,” Athletics Kenya said in a press statement.
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“As per Rule 15 requirements for Category A federations, all athletes hoping and planning to compete at the Olympics will be required to undergo at least three out-of-competition tests. Furthermore, in accordance with Rule 15.5.1(c), all athletes will be required to undertake their first out-of-competition testing at least 12 weeks before the opening ceremony of the Olympics,” the statement added.
The opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be held on Friday, July 20, 2026. That means that athletes representing Category A federations have until Friday, May 3, to undertake their first out-of-competition testing.
This week's announcement is bad news for athletes hoping to compete in the Olympics, as they have less than three days to comply with the new rule or risk losing their eligibility to compete in Paris 2024.
Athletics Kenya’s statement further added that athletes are under instructions to ensure that they undertake all three out-of-competition tests by Thursday, July 4, 2024.
“Those who have not complied with this will not be allowed to participate at the Olympics,” the statement warned.
The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) will conduct the three no-notice out-of-competition tests on Kenyan athletes. The Anti-Doping Administration Management System (ADAMS) will also record the three no-notice out-of-competition tests. ADAMS is a web-based data management system that records the daily activities of anti-doping athletes.
The new directive and its accompanying short notice create a big dilemma for athletes who may now have to present themselves for testing, as athlete and athletics coach Justin Lagat has lamented on Twitter (X).
“It is complicated. I don't think anyone presents themselves for testing; the doping control officers have to identify who to test. Resources are limited; otherwise, they would have just erected tents in Iten, Nairobi, Kapsabet, and Eldoret, so athletes would go for testing,” Justin Lagat said on Twitter (X).
The worst part in all these is that we now only have ONE day to figure out what to do since the deadline for getting tested is actually 3rd May!
— Justin Lagat (@LagatJustin) May 1, 2024
As concerns and worry rage on how the new and stringent additional rule introduced by the AIU will be complied with, Athletics Kenya has urged Kenyan athletes to familiarise themselves with the additional requirements and adhere to them to avoid last-minute disappointments.
“The federation will strictly apply this rule and will not include any athlete who does not comply with it in the team to represent the country at the Olympics,” Athletics Kenya said as it ended its statement.
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