IAAF President Lamine Diack Calls Widespread Kenyan Doping Claims 'Ridiculous'

Fears of widespread doping in Kenya have been described as unfounded and "ridiculous" by Int'l Association of Athletics Federations President Lamine Diack, according to James Riach of the London GUARDIAN. The World Anti-Doping Agency has put pressure on the Kenyan authorities to set up a new testing facility in the northwest town of Eldoret, the location of an important training camp, admitting the country is a "hot spot" for potential offenders. However, Diack, the long-standing president of the IAAF, insists Kenya is one of the "most controlled" places in the world. Diack: "People who say Kenya is not controlled are ridiculous, they are the most controlled country. Kenya, Russia, the United States and Ethiopia -- they are the most controlled countries. In doping we are doing the job, we are doing it very seriously. We banned a Kenyan for four years in 1993 for not turning up for a test and now the fight is continuing" (GUARDIAN, 5/31).