Athletes want Kenya to abide by WADA code

Elite athletes are getting itchy that Kenyan government is not working fast enough to address doping issues that threatens to bar them from the Rio Olympics.

London Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Olympic games bronze medalist Wilson Kipsang said on Thursday the country must take serious the doping allegation and put up structures to curb the vice and erase any doubts about its commitments to encourage clean sport.

This comes just a day after International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) President Seb Coe warned he will not think twice to kick out Kenya from international competitions and the Rio Olympics if it is proven that the country was attempting to cover up drug-taking.

"We are tested regularly and we comply. But they (government) too need to do their part and put in place mechanisms and structures to sensitize the athletes about what is good and bad. Increase the frequency of out-of-competition tests and widen their scope," Kipchoge said from Eldoret.

Coe hinted that IAAF will not hesitate to ban Kenyan athletes from the Olympics if the country is declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency code, just like he did with Russia.

Two days ago, Isaac Mwangi, Athletics Kenya CEO offered to step down after he was linked to demanding money from athletes who doped at the Beijing World Championships in exchange for leaner punishement.

But Kipsang urged athletes to stick to competing clean because the reputation of the country was on the line and they would miss out on big contracts.

"It is paramount that we prove to the world that we are doing something. But it is also important for the athletes to do their part and kick out this cheats," he said.

Last week, WADA announced Kenya's matter had been forwarded to its Independent Commission led by former president, Dick Pound, that recommended Russia's exclusion from international competition last December after it was established the European powerhouse was engaged in an official and systematic doping program for her athletes at major events.

Findings from the Independent Commission will advise on whether Kenya that missed a compliance deadline to the WADA code last week should be excluded from international competition. Endi