IAAF investigating Kenya over alleged doping cover-up
Last Updated: 17/11/15 4:09pm
Kenya have been investigated since March over allegations of doping cover-ups, the IAAF has revealed.
The world's athletics governing body suspended Russia last week after it was accused by a World Anti-Doping Agency commission of operating an extensive state-backed doping programme.
Allegations have been made by German broadcaster ARD that Kenyan track officials were extorting money from athletes and coaches to cover up failed drug tests, or in return for lenient doping bans.
Kenyan athletics coach Paul Simbolei says he knows of three athletes who bribed officials to get more lenient punishments after failing doping tests.
Simbolei made the larger accusations to ARD of officials demanding money or a share of an athlete's winnings in exchange for concealing doping. He declined to name runners or officials involved, but said he expected to be formally interviewed by Kenyan police, with whom he had already spoken.
A statement released on Tuesday said: "The IAAF encourages all persons with information, especially anyone with direct evidence of these matters, to provide that information and evidence to the IAAF Ethics Commission through its website."
The IAAF investigation into alleged cover-ups increases the possibility that Kenya could follow Russia and be suspended. That could rule a string of Kenyan high-profile athletes out of the Rio Olympics next summer.
Kenya, well known for producing top-class long distance runners, tied with Jamaica for the most gold medals (seven) at the World Championships at Beijing in August.
The IAAF also acknowledged on Tuesday that it had previously known about a separate Kenyan corruption investigation involving a senior track official who is a member of the world body's governing council.
David Okeyo, a vice president of the Kenyan athletics federation and a member of the IAAF council, is being investigated by Kenyan police along with two other top track officials for alleged embezzlement of sponsorship money meant for the national federation.
Okeyo denies any wrongdoing.
The other two are current Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat and Joseph Kinyua, a former federation treasurer and the manager of the Kenyan team at the World Championships in Beijing.
