Kenyan Oly chief wants action to end ‘cancer’ of doping

NAIROBI, May 10, (RTRS): The President of Kenya’s Olympic Committee has called for urgent measures to deal with what he described as the “cancer” of doping among athletes in the east African country.

Kenya, renowned for its distance running pedigree, has been tainted by a number of doping cases involving high-profile athletes in recent years.

“We need a deeper and genuine national conversation on this cancer within us. We must stop sweeping it under the carpet under the guise of confidentiality and expose it for what it is,” Paul Tergat, President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), said.

I once again wish to repeat my previous call that this menace must be treated for what it is – a criminal act and all participants in the whole chain face the severest sanctions possible – whoever they may be – as provided in Law, added Tergat, who was twice Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist.

“As a former athlete, President of NOCK and IOC Member, I am most disturbed by these recent developments. It is telling me that whatever we have been doing is not delivering results and there is need to recalibrate our approach,” Tergat said in an address to athletes at a ceremony for Kenyan medallists from the recent Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Former Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop has tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO, the IAAFs Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed on Friday.

The 28-year-old three-times world champion was the latest among the over 50 Kenyan athletes who have failed doping tests, including 2016 Olympic marathon gold medallist Jemima Sumgong.

Kiprop has vowed to prove his innocence and his case is now with an IAAF tribunal.

Colombia’s rider of Team Mitchelton-Scott, Johan Esteban Chaves (left), crosses the finish line ahead of teammate Britain’s rider of Team Mitchelton-Scott, Simon Yates to win the 6th stage between Caltanissetta (Sicily) and Mount Etna during the 101st Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy

cycling race, on May 10. (AFP)

before pulling away in commanding fashion to join the Colombian in the final kilometre.

“It’s unbelievable. I needed this for my comeback to the Giro after one year of absence,” said Chaves, who pulls on the King of the Mountains blue jersey.

“It was a really hard stage here at the end. I firstly thank Jack Haig for pulling so much in the breakaway. This 1-2 with Yates is like a dream.”

Yates added: “I felt really good, I looked across the road and everyone was looking at each other. I took a chance.

“The start was crazy. I didn’t really have to do anything, I could sit in the wheels and save energy.”

France’s Kenny Elissonde helped shepherd Sky teammate Froome onto the climb with the fourtime Tour de France winner finishing tenth among first chasing group alongside defending champion Tom Dumoulin. Dutch rider Dumoulin is now second overall 16sec behind Yates.

Froome -- bidding for a third consecutive Grand Tour win -- moves up from 19th to eighth position but dropped 15 seconds and is now 1min 10sec behind Yates.

“The day was really hard and the Sicily block has been tough,” said Elissonde.

“For the team it’s great that (Froome) is riding well. When I was in his wheel, at 6 or 7 km to go, he was still looking good. It bodes well. It’s the first really positive day of the Giro for us.”

From Friday, after three days in Sicily, the Giro continues on the Italian mainland with the 159km seventh stage between Pizzo and Praia a Mare in Calabria.

Results

1. Esteban Chaves (COL/MIT) 4hr 16min 11sec, 2. Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) same time, 3. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) at 26sec, 4. George Bennett (NZL/LNL) 26, 5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/BAH) 26, 6. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/ AST) 26, 7. Richard Carapaz (EQU/MOV) 26, 8. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) 26, 9. Fabio Aru (ITA/EAU) 26, 10. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 26

1. Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) 22hr 46min 03sec, 2. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) at 16sec, 3. Esteban Chaves (COL/MIT) 26, 4. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/BAH) 43, 5. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 45, 6. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) 53, 7. Pello Bilbao (ESP/AST) 1:03, 8. Chris Froome (GBR/ SKY) 1:10, 9. George Bennett (NZL/LNL) 1:11, 10. Fabio Aru (ITA/EAU) 1:12.