Kenya police arrest three fake anti-doping officials

Kenya's police arrested Thursday three men who posed as World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials to solicit bribes from unsuspecting athletes.

The trio were caught trying to con an athlete in a hotel into giving them 5,000 U.S. dollars in exchange for not recording a positive doping test.

Eldoret East divisional police commander Nelson Taliti said the suspects have been soliciting money from athletes in the athletics rich region.

"They were demanding as high as 5,000 dollars from the athletes in Eldoret. This is not acceptable since many athletes are falling prey of such dubious people," said Taliti.

Athletics Kenya has warned the athletes to be worry of such dishonest individual in their fight against doping.

"It is right for athletes to be tested, but we need to establish who are the people testing you and they must have documents to identify themselves," said AK President Jack Tuwei.

Coach Samsum Katum also warned his athletes not to fall victim of the con drug testers.

"There's a con man in Kenya by the name of Hissein Hibre Egal. This man has been pretending to be a Doping Control Officer, and contacting athletes to try and conduct a doping control on them. He first calls the athlete to arrange the test, saying he will come the following day," he said.

"He may also pretend to be an agent or coach, and sometimes works with two accomplices. Please note; this individual has nothing to do with the IAAF, WADA, or any other testing or Anti-Doping body."

Kenya has been on the global radar of the increase in number of athletes found doping. In the last three years, 43 athletes have been caught cheating and the government and Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) have been on the front row to sensitise the athletes against the vice. Endit