By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Norway has given Kenya a thumbs up sign on its efforts in the fight against doping and pledged to help Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya put up strong structural institutions to attain their goal.
Two years ago, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommended China and Norway to help Kenya root out drugs cheats. They were also mandated to help start a functional sample center in Nairobi with support from WADA.
Though that is yet to be achieved, Kenya's Anti-doping Agency ADAK is operational and is making gains in training and sensitizing athletes against the vice.
Norway's lead trainer in an ADAK seminar Ann Engelstad, who is also an advisor on international relations at Anti-Doping Norway, said Kenya had done well in the fight against doping.
"I must say that Kenya has done extraordinarily well in the area of anti-doping education in particular and in the fight against doping generally," Engelstad said Tuesday in Nairobi.
"I witnessed their capabilities after sitting through a whole day workshop for handball athletes and I give the educators a thumbs for a job well done."
The Norwegian said the country has a dedicated team that targets to have the country present clean athletes in global competition.
"Kenya has anti-doping officials who ooze passion for the promotion of clean sport in their country. The mastery of issues and their mode of delivery of anti-doping messages is a clear pointer that they have perfected their act," said Ann.
Kenya, which has always blamed foreign agents for leading athletes into using performance enhancing drugs, hit the wrong notes last year when WADA accused it of doing little to deal with a growing number of doping cases.
It became more urgent when Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong tested positive for EPO, months after Rita Jeptoo was also nabbed.
Former Kenya Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario also welcomed the help from China and Norway in the midst of the doping storm.
"Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) and ADN (the Norwegian agency) have a lot of experience and resources that will be useful in the fight against doping as we establish ourselves," he said.
