Written by RT Umair
Kenya, the most successful African country in the Olympics with over 124 medals—mainly from boxing and track and field events—now finds itself at the center of two scandals threatening its legacy: Faith Chepchirchir’s inclusion in the 2025 doping violations list and allegations of age fraud involving 30 Kenyan athletes.
With the national cross-country championship looming on February 8, 2025, Athletics Kenya (AK) is in overdrive.
This flagship event, featuring participants from 16 regions, will unfold in Eldoret after a sudden venue change from Ruiru’s Prisons Training College.
But amidst the excitement lies a brewing storm.
AK’s Director of Youth Development, Barnaba Korir, disclosed startling details: some cases of age manipulation date back eight years.
World Athletics has tasked Kenya with verifying athletes’ ages and demands a report by January 15. These investigations affect not just newcomers but some of the nation’s top performers.
The penalties? Brutal.
Age fraud will now attract the same sanctions as doping violations—nullified results and potential bans.
“If foul play is suspected, we will dig deep,” Korir warned.
AK is also targeting enablers—those who help falsify birth documents.
Security agencies are now in the mix. The federation insists on trust. Without it, Kenyan athletics risks losing credibility globally.
“Fair competition means children should compete against their peers—not adults posing as teenagers,” Korir emphasized, “It’s better to lose cleanly than to win dishonestly”.
But know that Kenya has not shied away from tackling the dark underbelly of doping scandals.
In 2016, the nation found itself categorized as “high-risk” by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after an alarming spike in doping cases.
What followed was a concerted national effort to reclaim credibility—Kenya established the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), implemented stricter testing protocols, and introduced severe penalties for violators.
The Kenyan government also pledged $25 million to enhance anti-doping efforts, fund comprehensive education campaigns, and strengthen investigative mechanisms.
This commitment, coupled with the intervention of World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit, saw Kenyan officials conducting thousands of rigorous tests annually.
As the February 2025 championship approaches, Kenya finds itself at a crossroads.
Can the nation purge these scandals and restore trust just like it did before?
Only time will tell.
