NAIROBI, March 5 -- Olympic 5,000m silver medalist Paul Chelimo of the United States has come to the defense of Kenya saying the country is doing everything to curb doping among its athletes.
Chelimo, who will be representing his adopted country of the USA at the Tokyo Olympics, occasionally trains in Eldoret to boost his endurance and speed. Chelimo said more is done in his motherland to stop cheating in sport.
"There is crackdown in Kenya and I can assure you when I'm there I get tested even more than in the United States. For example, last year before the Americas trials, I was in Kenya for 40 days training and I was tested five times by anti-doping officials," Chelimo said on Wednesday.
Kenya has been categorized as one of countries with high likelihood of its athletes cheating, together with Venezuela, Ethiopia and Ukraine.
Athletes from these four countries are required to undergo mandatory out-of-competition anti-doping tests before being allowed to contest at the Olympic Games or the World Championships.
A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report in September 2018 said 138 Kenyan athletes tested positive from 2004 to August 2018.
In the latest list of cheats on Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an independent World Athletics body to fight doping, over 50 Kenyans has been sanctioned in the last two years.
"Doping is a personal choice and it doesn't mean if you train in a certain region you can dope or be influenced to dope. If anyone wants to dope, they can dope anywhere. It is not only in Kenya and Ethiopia," Chelimo said.
Critics have said there are undeniable trend with the East African countries of positive cases for banned substances and it is becoming increasingly complex.
"I don't know many American athletes go to Kenya or Ethiopia to train unless they were born there. Having said that, it is not just to train, most of us go back to visit where our parents, grandparents and family reside," said Chelimo.
体坛英语资讯:Chinese Baijiu maker inks record sponsorship deal with Australian Tennis Open
体坛英语资讯:AEK Athens lose to Bayern Munich 2-0 at home in UEFA Champions League
体坛英语资讯:Freiburg upset Monchengladbach 3-1 in German Bundesliga
国内英语资讯:Economic Watch: From coast to inland: pilot FTZs advancing Chinas opening-up and reform
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Xis Asia-Pacific trip to boost open cooperation, inclusive growth
体坛英语资讯:Athletes engaging with SafeSport at Youth Olympics
国内英语资讯:Policies refined to boost cross-border e-commerce
国内英语资讯:China, Brunei lift ties to strategic cooperative partnership
国内英语资讯:China, S. Korea should work together to build open world economy: Chinese state councilor
国内英语资讯:China, Philippines agree to step up legislative exchanges
体坛英语资讯:Chinese paddlers target at regaining title at Mens World Cup
国内英语资讯:China, Egypt to boost military exchanges, cooperation
体坛英语资讯:China sweep United States at Volleyball World Championships
体坛英语资讯:Africa Rugby expands Gold Cup tourney to eight teams
体坛英语资讯:Saurabh extends Indias golden run in Youth Olympics shooting
体坛英语资讯:German Pascal Ackermann wins stage 2 of Tour of Guangxi
体坛英语资讯:Argentinas Firmapaz elated with shooting bronze at Youth Olympics
体坛英语资讯:FIFA approves Copa America schedule change
国内英语资讯:China, Hungary to enhance law enforcement, security cooperation
国内英语资讯:China, Philippines agree to upgrade ties, jointly build Belt and Road
国内英语资讯:Chinese president back home after APEC meeting, visits to Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Philippi
体坛英语资讯:CBA Roundup: Xinjiang beat Tongxi 116-95
国内英语资讯:China, Philippines chart course for future relations in joint statement
体坛英语资讯:World No. 1 Fan to kick off ITTF Mens World Cup campaign against Brazilian Tsuboi
国内英语资讯:Expectations run high on Xis visit to the Philippines
体坛英语资讯:Lionel Messi awarded Spains Player of the Month for September
国内英语资讯:Full text of China-Philippines joint statement
体坛英语资讯:Friendship is the perfect lift for Briton at Buenos Aires 2018
体坛英语资讯:Federer, Djokovoic into quarters in Shanghai Masters
国内英语资讯:Senior State Council officials pledge allegiance to Constitution