Journalists educated on Anti-Doping in ADAK workshop

By SJAK

DIANI, Kenya, Jul 8 – Sports Journalists have received vital tips
on Anti-Doping ahead of the World Athletics Championships
and Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) Acting CEO Sarah
Shibutse noted that media practitioners need to understand the
dynamics of Anti-Doping as Kenyan athletes prepare for
gigantic sporting events.

She added that scribes are key in disseminating the message
of Anti-Doping to the athletes, hence the basis of the workshop.
Shibutse was speaking in Diani where ADAK are running a two-
day workshop on the principles, and values associated with
clean sport.

She noted that journalists should be careful not to get
intertwined in facilitating Kenyan athletes to dope.
“Journalists are liable to prosecution under the penal code if
found in possession of or trafficking a prohibited substances
without a justifiable reason,” Shibutse explained.
Scribes also received insights from ADAK educators on Anti-
Doping rule violation, sample collection, results substances, the
updated 2022 prohibited list and athletes whereabouts.
Tomorrow’s session will entail tutorials on good supplements,
principles and values associated with clean Sport, the
consequences of doping and so much more.

Shibutse said: “After the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo last year,
journalists need to be updated with the World Anti-doping Code
which changes after every five years.”
“The Workshop precedes major international and continental
events now that we are going to Oregon for the World Athletics
Championships and the Commonwealth Games in
Birmingham.”

“We have collaborated with the media when addressing matters
Anti-Doping especially in this busy season leading to the global
events where Kenyan athletes will be involved.”
Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) President Chris
Mbaisi thanked ADAK for their continued support towards
media trainers.
“We have enjoyed good relationship with ADAK and savoured
two training workshops since 2018. But due to the COVID-19
pandemic difficulties, we weren’t consistent in running the
series of trainings.”

“We understand that Anti-Doping rules do change from time to
time. Doping defines sport in the present world because you
have to be clean to compete. It is important for sports scribes to
be up to date with ADAK activities more so in target-testing
athletes,” Mbaisi remarked.

ADAK is a State Corporation established through the Anti-
Doping Act, 2016.
Its mandate is to protect athletes’ fundamental rights to
participate in doping-free sport.