In Kenya's "running heartlands," a spate of failed drug tests has "fueled fears" the East African nation could follow Russia in being suspended from world athletics over doping violations, "threatening the region's economic lifeline," according to Drazen Jorgic of REUTERS. The "unprecedented move" to suspend Russia from int'l track and field competitions follows an "explosive report" by WADA. Kenya's Rift Valley region, "famous for churning out champion runners from high-altitude training camps," was "shaken by a warning" from a top official that WADA was "seriously considering" banning Kenya for four years, including from the 2016 Rio Olympics. The threat is a "major concern" for a region where children still "trudge to school barefoot and most hotels, large houses and flashy German cars belong to athletes who used running as a way out of poverty." Two-time Eindhoven Marathon winner Philip Singoei, who used his race winnings to pay school fees for nine siblings, said, "If one athlete goes out there and wins, he brings the money and shares with the community. If that stops, life will be hard for most Kenyans here." In the last few years, 33 Kenyan runners have "failed drug tests in WADA-accredited labs." Only Russia had more medal-winning athletes "with suspect blood tests" than Kenya, according to The Sunday Times, which said its report was "based on leaked IAAF blood testing data." Kenyan Olympic Committee Chair Kipchoge Keino met with WADA earlier this month and "began sounding alarm bells at home," warning Kenya faced a suspension "unless it tackled doping more seriously." Keino said, "WADA is seriously considering recommending Kenya for ban from all international competitions for failing to take action on doping matters. They think Kenya is sweeping doping issues under the carpet" (REUTERS, 11/15).
RUSSIAN PURGE: In London, Luhn & Ingle reported Russia's athletics federations met in Moscow to begin what the sports minister said would be "a purge of its staff" after the country was suspended from int'l competition over doping. Russia Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that Russia will "undertake reforms and appeal" to the IAAF within three months to return to competition. At stake is "the country’s participation at the world indoor championships in March and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August." Mutko told Russian news agency Tass that the Russian athletics federation is "taking steps to ensure it will return to international competition before Rio," including replacing coaches and officials. He added that he "hoped its leadership would be 99% new" after elections at a conference on Jan. 16 at which a temporary federation president and presidium will be elected. Mutko: "Some may suffer in this situation, but we will remove all those who reputation is under suspicion from the athletics management system" (GUARDIAN, 11/15).
LOOMING QUESTIONS: The SUNDAY TIMES reported IAAF President Sebastian Coe is "facing questions about his senior role" with a company that has represented Russian Olympic team sponsors and countries criticized for human rights abuses. Coe is exec chair of CSM, a multinational sports marketing firm with business interests in Russia, including representing Gazprom, "a state-backed oil giant and a leading sponsor of Russia's Olympic team." Last year Gazprom signed a deal with the Russian Olympic Committee to "sponsor the national team and allocate funds for Russian athletes’ training for the Olympics in Brazil." Fast Track, a subsidiary of CSM, has worked with Gazprom on projects "including an annual sailing competition and its sponsorship of Chelsea football club," which is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Chelsea "also employs Coe as a consultant." Another CSM subsidiary, iLuka, "worked on hospitality for the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014." CSM has also "advised Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on winning bids for lucrative sporting events." There is "no suggestion of wrongdoing by Coe" and a CSM spokesperson said that Coe "had no direct involvement in the bids and sponsorships in question." However, he is "likely to be questioned about whether his corporate positions constitute a conflict of interest" when he appears before the culture, media and sport select committee next month (SUNDAY TIMES, 11/15).
