Kenya doping: Medical professionals helping drug cheats

Medical professionals in Kenya are helping elite athletes cover up their drug use, according to a report.

The announcement was made by a tribunal looking into the latest case of a banned Kenyan runner, with the threemember panel uncovering a “pattern of behaviour” in the defences used by athletes accused of doping

The tribunal was investigating middle distance runner Eglay Nalyanya who was yesterday handed an eight-year ban for three breaches of regulations including the presence and use of a prohibited substance as well as tampering or attempted tampering with doping control.

It found that forged documents submitted by Nalyanya were similar to those of another recent case involving fellow Kenyan Betty Lempus who was banned for five years in January.

‘Fictitious doctors’

The panel observed that both Nalyanya and Lempus claimed to have received intramuscular injections while being treated at the same Kenyan hospital.

“In both instances, Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) investigationsin collaboration with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya - discovered the documents were false; that the doctors listed were fictitious; and that neither athlete had received the respective injection though both women had attended the hospital on the respective days in question,” read the verdict.

This led the tribunal to conclude that, “elite Kenyan athletes are being assisted by a person or persons, including someone with considerable medical knowledge, to commit what amounts to criminal conduct involving frauds on the AIU, and that this is not limited to a single case but evidences a pattern of behaviour.”

The latest revelations are a blow to Kenya’s efforts in the fight against doping. Last year, the country narrowly avoided a ban from international athletics after vowing to clean house.

David Howman, chair of the AIU, which is an independent organisation, says they are committed to working with Kenya to ensure that happens.

“It is clear doping in Kenya is increasingly well organised and this is a serious threat to our sport,” he said.

“The AIU has been asked to work with the Kenyan government, Athletics Kenya and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya to attack this crisis.”

“We are all aware of the magnitude of this challenge and we will do our utmost to find the sources of these doping operations in Kenya, to seek the appropriate punishments and protect the integrity of international athletics.” as soon as we can.’”

Responding to these latest revelations, Athletics Kenya said they are committed to the war against doping and are working with the AIU to launch an operation involving criminal investigators and medical authorities to identify and prosecute anyone involved.

They also pointed to the recent five-million dollar cash boost from the Kenyan government as part of the country’s commitment to cracking down on drug cheats.

So how did the passengers react? Mr Erasmus described a moment of absolute silence: “You could hear a needle drop and I think everyone froze for a moment or two.”

Pilots are trained for lots of scenarios, but certainly not for dealing with snakes in the cockpit he said, telling the BBC that panicking would have just made the situation worse.

The plane made an emergency landing in the city of Welkom.

However, the presence of the snake, although shocking, was not a total surprise. Two people working at Worcester flying club where the plane first took off, said they had earlier spotted a reptile taking refuge under the aircraft. They tried to “grab” it, but without success.

Mr Erasmus said he tried to find the snake before boarding the aircraft with his passengers, but “unfortunately it was not there, so we all then safely assumed that it must have crawled out overnight or earlier that morning, which was on Monday”.

The slithering passenger is still missing, as engineers who then stripped the plane are yet to find it.

Mr Erasmus has been hailed a hero, with South African civil aviation commissioner, Poppy Khosa, praising his “great airmanship indeed which saved all lives on board,” according to the News24 site.

But the modest pilot says he doesn’t feel like he’s special for what he did: “I think that’s a bit blown up if I can be direct,” he said. “It’s also my passengers that remained calm as well.”

Retire And

Kagame

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has said he is looking forward to retiring and handing over power after 23 years in office.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, Mr Kagame said a succession plan was being actively discussed by the ruling party, terming his retirement an “inevitability”.

Mr Kagame said he was not necessarily interested in choosing his successor but rather creating an environment that would give rise to people who can lead.

“We have been having this discussion within our [ruling] party since 2010 but circumstances, challenges and history of Rwanda tend to dictate certain things,” he said.

He said his retirement was an issue that has to be discussed “sooner or later”.

“I’m sure one day I may join journalism in my old age. I’m looking forward to that,” Mr Kagame said.

His comments come days after the country’s ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), elected its first woman vice-chairperson.

President Kagame retained the chairmanship position. He has led the party since 1998.

This was not the first time Mr Kagame has talked about retirement. In December 2022, he said he had no problem becoming an ordinary senior citizen.

Mr Kagame has been president of the East African nation since 2000. A controversial referendum in 2015 removed a two-term constitutional limit for presidents.

The president last year told a French TV channel he would stand for president again at the next election in 2024.

Zimbabwe politician fined for spreading false news

Acourt in Zimbabwe has fined the spokeswoman of the main opposition party $500 (£400) after convicting her of spreading false information on Twitter.

Fadzayi Mahere is a prominent lawyer and member of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), which is challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa in this year’s elections.

She was arrested two years ago after posting a video in which people said a police officer had fatally struck a baby with a baton when in fact the child was alive and not injured.

Ms Mahere’s relatives sobbed in court as the verdict was read out. The prosecution had called for a jail term, but the magistrate decided to fine her. The magistrate said Ms Mahere had undermined the authority of the police and should have verified the information.

The case is controversial as the law under which she was convicted no longer exists. The Constitutional Court struck it down because it violated freedom of speech. But the state continues to use it, especially against its critics

Source: BBC

Rebels pardoned over killing of Chad’s ex-ruler

Chad’s government says it has pardoned and released 380 rebels who had been serving life sentences over the death of former President Idriss Déby.

He was killed two years ago after going to the front line to fight rebels from a group known as Front for Change and Concord in Chad.

In March more than 400 rebels were sentenced in a mass trial for acts of terrorism, recruitment of child soldiers and assaulting the head of state.

Most were pardoned by the former president’s son - Mahamat Idriss Débywho took office after his father’s death.

The pardon did not apply to the rebel leader, Mahamat Mahdi Ali, who is on the run.