Namwamba gives assurance to athletics enthusiasts in wake of Kenya's possible international ban over doping

The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts Ababu Namwamba insists that his office is in communication with the World Athletics in an effort aimed at saving the country from being banned by the latter.

Talks of a possibility of a ban being meted out on Kenya by the world’s governing body have been the talk of town in recent days in wake of the spiraling cases of athletes violating doping rules with reckless abandon.

Namwaba who has been vocal on combating the vice said in a statement that his office was working in unison with Athletics Integrity Unit and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to bring towards this end.

"We cannot allow our nation to be banned because of the actions of some greedy unethical individuals. We will target and deal decisively with the criminals and their syndicates. We must work together to eradicate doping and cheating from athletics and sports in general," he said.

The CS added that the ministry had a good and effective plan to deal with doping, sending a strong warning to the few unethical criminal elements hellbent on soiling Kenya’s hard-earned premium pedigree as a top athletics nation that prides herself on competing and winning clean.

NOC-K strikes partnership with medical practitioners to combat doping

The Ministry's boss said the position of the Republic of Kenya is zero tolerance to doping. He further vowed to explore all available options to ensure that Kenya is removed from the list of Class A doping nations.

"We will not allow them, and we must defeat doping and its perpetrators. This is a serious concern and that is why the government is giving total undivided attention. We are treating it as a matter of top strategic national interest," he assured.

Namwamba in the meantime challenged sportsmen to subscribe to Abraham Lincoln's word that "I would rather loose honorably than cheat”.