WADA Recommends Kenya Be Declared Non-Compliant
WADA Recommends Kenya Be Declared Non-Compliant
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made the unanimous recommendation that Kenya should be declared noncompliant with the world anti-doping code. The news w
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made the unanimous recommendation that Kenya should be declared noncompliant with the world anti-doping code. The news was announced on the WADA twitter page Thursday morning.
WADA Compliance Review Committee chairman Rene Bouchard told ESPN that Kenya should be sanctioned because the nation’s recently-passed legislation setting parameters for its national anti-doping agency did not fully comply with the code.
WADA made the recommendation official when it presented its findings to the Foundation Board at a meeting in Montreal, Canada, on Thursday, and the recommendation was accepted.
The African country’s status at the 2016 Rio Olympics now hangs on whether the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will impose a ban.
As reported by BBC Sport, Kenya failed to meet a deadline on February 11 to pass a law that would have established a new national anti-doping agency. The federation was then placed on a WADA watch list of nations at risk of breaking code. Kenya was given until April 5 to show progress, but failed to meet the full requirements.
Kenyan lawmakers held a preliminary reading of a bill, but two more hearings were still required. The country’s parliament went on a month-long recess without approving the legislation, which caused the federation to miss the deadline.
Despite missing the April 5 deadline, WADA informed the federation that it would still consider information provided to them before the May 12 meeting.
The review of the Kenyan federation became official on Thursday when the WADA Compliance Review Committee cited its issues with Kenyan legislation.
“The CRC cites issues with #Kenya’s legislation, which it says is not in line with the World Anti-Doping Code,” WADA wrote in a Twitter post.
Kenya dominated the medal stand at the 2015 World Outdoor Championships in Beijing. The country took home a total of 16 medals: seven gold, six silver, and three bronze, which beat runner-up Jamaica by four medals. The country has been under intense scrutiny for the past five years as 40 athletes have been found guilty of doping violations since 2012.
The #WADA CRC has made the unanimous recommendation that #Kenya be declared non-compliant with immediate effect.
— WADA (@wada_ama) May 12, 2016
WADA Compliance Review Committee chairman Rene Bouchard told ESPN that Kenya should be sanctioned because the nation’s recently-passed legislation setting parameters for its national anti-doping agency did not fully comply with the code.
WADA made the recommendation official when it presented its findings to the Foundation Board at a meeting in Montreal, Canada, on Thursday, and the recommendation was accepted.
The African country’s status at the 2016 Rio Olympics now hangs on whether the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will impose a ban.
As reported by BBC Sport, Kenya failed to meet a deadline on February 11 to pass a law that would have established a new national anti-doping agency. The federation was then placed on a WADA watch list of nations at risk of breaking code. Kenya was given until April 5 to show progress, but failed to meet the full requirements.
Kenyan lawmakers held a preliminary reading of a bill, but two more hearings were still required. The country’s parliament went on a month-long recess without approving the legislation, which caused the federation to miss the deadline.
Despite missing the April 5 deadline, WADA informed the federation that it would still consider information provided to them before the May 12 meeting.
The review of the Kenyan federation became official on Thursday when the WADA Compliance Review Committee cited its issues with Kenyan legislation.
“The CRC cites issues with #Kenya’s legislation, which it says is not in line with the World Anti-Doping Code,” WADA wrote in a Twitter post.
Kenya dominated the medal stand at the 2015 World Outdoor Championships in Beijing. The country took home a total of 16 medals: seven gold, six silver, and three bronze, which beat runner-up Jamaica by four medals. The country has been under intense scrutiny for the past five years as 40 athletes have been found guilty of doping violations since 2012.