The University of Nairobi, College of Education and External Studies, Department of Physical Education and Sports in partnership with Leeds Beckett University, Carnegie School of Sports held a 2 day successful workshop where a number of participants both from academia and athletics participated and made presentations. the workshop was held at LTB 1-School of Education-Kikuyu Campus on December 17th and 18th 2020
The event was themed, "Drugs Free Sports; Say No to Drugs”. While giving her opening remarks, Dr.Janet Wanjira (organiser) welcomed the participants and acknowledeged Leeds Beckett University who were the sponsors of the event. In her remarks, Dr. Janet Chumba, the acting Chair, Department of Physical Education and Sports welcomed participants and thanked Dr. Wanjira for organizing the workshop to sensitize and educate athletes and sports stakeholders on the effects of doping in sports.
The event was officially opened by Dr. Samson Gunga (Dean Faculty of Education). He also read the speech by Prof. Isaac Jumba who thanked the organizers, participants and the department as a whole for making the event a success.
The two day event included presentations and discussions against doping. The participants included current and former athletes as well as officials from Anti Doping Agency. During the first day, a number of presentations were made including a recorded video presentation by the Key note Speaker, The key note speaker was Dr. Laurie Patterson from Leeds Beckett University, Carnegie College of Sports in the United Kingdom.She congratulated the University of Nairobi on the 50th cerebrations and appreciated the collaboration between Leeds Becketti Unversity and the University of Nairobi.
Professor Elijah Gitonga made a presentation on Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions in Doping among University Students in Physical Education and Sports Science related Degree programmes.
MS Agnes Mandu an official in charge of Education at the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) presented and reported that the Agency is a semi-autonomous government organization which was established in 2016 through an Act of Parliament to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sports. She further stated that the agency is fully funded by the government, is supported by WADA and is situated at Westlands in Nairobi city.It was reported that the agency works under the umbrella of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Whilw making his presentation, Mr. Isaac Macharia an elite marathon athlete asserted that doping can be compared to stealing. He noted that doping had side effects such as Psychological torture among others. Macharia said that Anti Doping Agency of Kenya has a responsibility to keep athletes away from drugs. He also opined that the school curriculum should include Anti-doping to ensure cultural integrity from a young age. Macharia also noted that doping has been around for a long time and has been recently amplified due to Technological advances. He also encouraged athletes to support each other in the society through charitable activities.
There was also a presentation by a veteran athlete Mr. John Ngugi who has represented Kenya in a number of international athletics competitions. He highlighted on a number of competitions he won and being a five time world cross country record holder He talked about the positive benefits as well as and negatives that come with it winning when athletes are not well educated on anti doping matters. Mr. John also gave an account of his personal experience with Anti-Doping officials. He advocated for doping education to athletes so as to avoid getting into problems and bringing one’s sports career to an end prematurely when implicated with doping.
Dr. Nicholas Bailasha made a presentation on Doping and Injuries/Illness in sports. He highlighted on the reasons as to why sports men and women dope, the doping agents, criteria for banning a substance/drug in sports, the side effects of doping, methods of detecting doping and the consequences of doping.
Dr. Michael Otieno did a presentation on the Determinants of Anti-Doping Violation, a case of doping in Rugby in Kenya.
Mr. Isaac Muasya made a presentation on Applying Social Strain Theory to the Analysis and understanding of Doping Behavior in Sports. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals though they lack the means.
The second day started with a presentation from Dr. Ruth Kahiga on Ethical Issues. She stated that sports has an intrinsic value that involves celebration of the human spirit, body and mind. That this is reflected in values like ethics, fair play and honesty, health, excellence in performance, character and education, fun and joy, team work, dedication and commitment, respect for rules and laws, respect for self and other participants, courage, community and solidarity. She concluded by stating that there is need to preserve the integrity of sports and to promote clean sports.
There was also a presentation on Sexual Harassment of Athletes in Kenya by Dr. Juliet Muasya. She stated that Kenya is globally recognized as sports powerhouse in the middle and long races and added that underneath the young athletes’ dreams are untold tales of frustration, threats and sexual abuse which they endure in pain and silence in the training camps.
In his presentation, Mr. Patrick Ivuti, an elite athletes and a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) encouraged athletes to engage in everyday fitness so as to remove temptation to use banned drugs and methods. He stated that all kinds of sports is a form of business. He further stated that sports make people to interact with the elite in the society.
There was also a presentation by Mr. Julius Ndegwa, an elite middle distance athlete and also a coach with for the National Police team. He is also noted he is the Kenyan elite athletes’ representative and advocates for their rights and fare treatment and representations. He stated that doping cases in Kenya are on the rise and therefore coaches, lecturers and anyone closely associating with sportsmen and women should be on the frontline to ensure that the menace is brought to an end.
Also present was Advocate Njeri Onyango who sits in the Sports Disputes Tribunal. She explained the mandate of the tribunal and cautioned Athletes against doping. Njeri also said that sports should be fair and emphasized on the need to educate athletes against doping. According to Njeri, Athletes should regularly get tested for doping. She further stated that the Tribunal provides amnesty for athletes if they can provide a record of consumed substances.
She concluded by stating that Sports Disputes tribunal has a limit to jurisdiction.
There was also a legal presentation by Advocate Bildad Rogoncho who presented on Legal Framework on Anti-Doping.His presentation was based on 3 Legal Instruments on Doping;
- The Anti-Doping Act
- The Anti-Doping rules
- The international standards on Results Management
Dr. Janet Wanjira did a presentation on Nutrition Strategies for Competition. She noted that proper/optimal nutrition has a role in doping prevention.The presentation highlighted majorly on various diets recommended for various athletes.
There was also a presentation Mr. Martin Sisa Yauma, who heads the department of Research and Development at the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). The presentation was on Anti-Doping Education. All participants were given free copies of anti-doping literature.
The last presentation of the day the workshop was from Dr. Simon Munayi and it was presented by Dr. Janet Wanjira. The presentation was on Perceptions of Youth Athletes Sources of Knowledge on Doping, the case of North Rift Training Camps in Kenya.
The event ended with Certificate award to all participants for their participation and contributions towards the success of the workshop.
The Dean, College of Education and External Studies; Professor Samson Gunga gave the closing remarks and hailed the Department of Physical Education and Sports for incorporating Anti-Doping as a unit in their undergraduate and Master’s Degree courses.
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