With doping business thriving in Kenya where many Kenyan runners have been banned for doping, leaders have come up to support the Act of parliament that has put dopers on the watch list.
But Athletics Kenya North Rift PRO Boniface Tiren has urged the athletes’ management not to put too much pressure on athletes to attain a certain time before competing in a championships.
Tiren said that in all the doping cases, it happens because there is business in the sport. With such thriving business, an athlete is put under pressure that one has to attain a certain par and time before competing in a certain race.
“For one to compete in a certain race or marathon, an athlete is told to attain a certain time. For example for any athlete to run at World marathon majors like Boston, Tokyo or any championships or any Diamond Leagues, they must have this term and time. With that, an athlete can do anything to gain that time and run,” said Tiren.
He said that it is not fair to set standards but allow athletes to compete, not forcing athletes that if they want to be invited to run in 10,000m at the Diamond Leagues, they must have a sub 27:.
“With this time, how many athletes will have such time, bearing in mind that Kenya is also in high altitude where few people have the opportunity to run in lower altitude. For example if they want athletes who have run 2:05 or 204 to compete in world majors and major events, will make athletes find a short cut,” said Tiren.
He pointed out that there should be no standards but avoid putting athletes under immense pressure that is forcing athletes to go for enhancing substances.
“I want to believe AK and ADAK in this case to come out very strongly, stamp their authority and let them not give too much pressure to our athletes and that will be a milestone for Athletics Kenya,” he said.
“The reason why I am saying this is because many athletes will run for a very short time and others will disappear in blues, which is not the way to go. We have had very many athletes who have run for a very long time like 20 years and why should you run for only three years and you disappear, then there must be something wrong. They should get to the root course of what cost that,” he urged.
He said that he would like to see leadership, just like other federations like football, which is the most popular sport worldwide and this country because there is connectivity of many people but athletics is number one that has brought many medals for the nation.
He added that Kenyan athletes should be accorded respect for marketing this country.
“Our athletes are number one in tourism then wild animals come in second position to have given this country a good name. These are the people who must be protected, supported. It is shameful that we do fundraising for a legend. There is no universal health care for them while some politicians are given a lot of money. When a politician is sick, they are airlifted but when an athlete is injured, no one cares,” he said.