Uhuru signs revised Anti-Doping Bill into law

Kenyan athletes running during a training session in Iten in the Rift Valley. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) gave Kenya until April 5 to tighten its anti-doping law. FILE PHOTO | SIMON MAINA |  AFP

By OTIATO GUGUYU, dotiato@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• The move clears the way for the World Anti-Doping Agency to review Kenya’s compliance with its code.
• Wada's compliance committee had ruled that Kenya was "non-compliant" when its board met in Montreal on May this year, citing issues related to the anti-doping legislation.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has rushed to sign the amended Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2016 into law days after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report on Kenyan athletes.

WADA's compliance committee had ruled that Kenya was "non-compliant" when its board met in Montreal on May this year, citing issues related to the anti-doping legislation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had threatened that athletes from Russia and Kenya will only be able to compete at the Rio Olympics if they pass an ‘individual evaluation’ to prove they have not been doping.

“We look forward to WADA’s review and declaration of Kenya as compliant with existing rules,” said Mr Kenyatta.

Present during the signing were the Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi, chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee Kipchoge Keino and Solicitor General Njee Muturi among other senior government officials.

WADA declaration that Kenya was non-compliant with its anti-doping code, prompted the country to introduce a new legislation.

However the new law was found wanting by the Anti-Doping agency who pointed out flaws prompting the government to work on amendments.

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