'Train hard win easy' day here again

Former world 3,000 metres steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos (left), who is also the athletes’ representative at Athletics Kenya, Olympic 800 metres champion David Rudisha (centre) and athletics manager Jonas Kipkemboi Tonge join other athletes and officials in a procession during the launch of Athletics Kenya’s anti-doping campaign in Kapsabet, Nandi County on November 2, 2017. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |

Athletes converge at Iten grounds Friday for the second edition of Athletics Kenya Anti-Doping Day.

This is part of the AK initiative to intensify the war against doping while at the same time sensitising the athletes on the hazards of using banned substance.

The federation has been involved in anti-doping education activities throughout the season through seminars and road shows and the Iten event is meant to crown the year.

The first edition of AK Anti-doping Day in Kapsabet a year ago turned out to be a huge success and with the second edition set for Iten— another hot-bed for top runners - I know a lot of ground will be covered.

The event involves an awareness campaign aimed at sensitising and educating the athletes to uphold the philosophy that “True winners run clean” or rather “Train hard win easy".

This is why I call upon all sportsmen and women to join Athletics Kenya (AK) in Elgeyo Markwet in saying "NO!" to doping and help the country recapture its status as an athletics superpower on the global sporting arena.

The event in Iten, also known as the "Home of Champions", will be key especially to athletes who want to take their careers to the next level. We intend to discuss various topics related to the doping menace as we seek to take the fight against the vice to another level.

We have invited top athletes, coaches and managers among others as this is a menace that continues to claim some of our best runners.

The fact that a total of 114 Kenyan athletes have so far been banned for drug-related offences, with 54 of them currently suspended, is cause for worry for all the stakeholders.

The Iten event will no doubt attract many stakeholders considering it is coming after World Anti-Doping Agency-approved blood testing laboratory to be established in Nairobi.

The laboratory, due to open this month, will test all doping cases in international track and field in Kenya and most of Africa. The move leaves no doubt about the seriousness with which AK are taking this matter and woe unto the "Doubting Thomases".

In fact, for those still in denial and want to continue cheating, it’s time you started counting your days in athletics.

The fact AK is working closely with Athletics Integrity Unit and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya makes it even more trickier for those athletes who think there is a shortcut to success. See you in Iten on Friday.