Coe Applauds Kenya’s Fight Against Doping, Calls for Action on Gender-Based Violence in Sports

World Athletics President Seb Coe has lauded Kenya’s commitment to tackling doping in athletics, expressing satisfaction with the measures implemented by Athletics Kenya (AK) and the national government.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya at Talanta Plaza on Tuesday, Coe acknowledged the significant progress made in curbing doping, crediting the government’s financial support as a key driver in the ongoing fight against the vice.

“I know the Athletics Integrity Unit, which oversees testing programs within World Athletics, is very satisfied with the progress being made. The Kenyan government’s funding has been extremely helpful in this fight,” Coe stated.

Despite its status as a powerhouse in global athletics, Kenya has faced persistent challenges with doping, having been placed in Category A— a classification for high-risk nations— eight years ago. While strides have been made to eradicate the issue, the country continues to grapple with doping cases, prompting authorities to tighten regulations and intensify monitoring efforts.

Beyond doping, Coe also addressed another pressing issue affecting Kenyan athletics— gender-based violence (GBV). He emphasized that while GBV is not exclusive to sports, athletics can be a powerful platform to raise awareness and drive change.

“The second major challenge is gender-based violence. It is not entirely linked to sports, but we recognize the role that sports can play in highlighting and addressing this issue,” Coe remarked.

Echoing Coe’s sentiments, CS Mvurya reaffirmed the government’s dedication to fighting doping and addressing GBV in sports. He reiterated Kenya’s commitment to providing $5 million (approximately Ksh 650 million) annually to support anti-doping initiatives, including athlete sensitization, testing, and investigations.

“We have remained committed to ensuring resources are available every year to strengthen education, compliance, and testing programs for athletes,” Mvurya affirmed.

On the issue of gender-based violence, the Sports CS highlighted the government’s proactive measures, revealing that a dedicated GBV secretariat had been established to spearhead efforts in addressing the menace.

“The government of Kenya has rolled out gender-based violence initiatives in sports, and we now have a dedicated secretariat led by a CEO who has already made significant progress,” he noted.

Also present at the meeting were Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei and Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum