Kenyan officials confiscated a shipment of illicit medications that can be misused by athletes as performance enhancers, as reported by the nation's anti-doping agency on Monday. A woman apprehended at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta Airport is suspected of smuggling these substances and is expected to appear in court this week. The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) confirmed the arrest, which occurred during a joint operation with law enforcement last Thursday.
The seized contraband reportedly comprised 150 boxes of triamcinolone acetonide, a substance frequently detected in doping cases involving Kenyan athletes, along with over 500 boxes of other pharmaceuticals. Kenya, renowned for its prowess in middle- and long-distance running, boasts a history of Olympic and world championship victories. However, the country is grappling with a significant doping issue and is categorized as high-risk by the international governing body for track and field.
Currently, over 60 Kenyan athletes are serving suspensions for doping-related infractions. Recent cases include prominent marathon runners Diana Kipyokei, the Boston Marathon champion, and Betty Wilson Lempus, both of whom received lengthy bans after testing positive for triamcinolone acetonide and being found guilty of evidence tampering. Kipyokei received a six-year ban, while Lempus was banned for five years. This recent seizure underscores the ongoing challenge of combating doping in Kenyan athletics.
