Coe Says Kenya’s 2029 World Athletics Championships Can Boost Anti-Doping Fight

Posted : 15 October 2026

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe believes Kenya’s hosting of the 2029 World Athletics Championships will help accelerate efforts to combat doping in the country. Speaking during a visit to Nairobi on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the British athletics chief acknowledged that progress had been made but stressed that more work was necessary to protect the integrity of the sport.

Kenya is internationally recognised for its success in middle-distance and long-distance running, producing numerous Olympic and world champions. However, the country's reputation has faced growing scrutiny following a series of doping violations involving its athletes. More than 140 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned since the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) was established in 2017, with another positive test announced shortly before Coe's visit.

Coe said staging the global championships would bring greater attention to Kenya's efforts to establish a cleaner sporting environment. He acknowledged that the country still faced considerable challenges but expressed confidence in the progress reported by the AIU.

The World Athletics president also emphasised that the competition should encourage authorities to maintain momentum in their reforms. He noted that Kenya had already travelled a considerable distance in addressing the issue, although sustained action would remain essential in the years leading up to 2029.

Coe credited reforms introduced during his presidency, including the creation of the independent AIU, with improving the sport's ability to identify and investigate doping offences. He explained that testing has become more extensive, more intensive and increasingly guided by intelligence compared with earlier systems.

He also pointed to increased government funding as an important part of Kenya's response. According to Coe, discussions with the country's current and former leadership indicated that protecting the integrity of Kenyan athletics had become a national priority.

Nevertheless, he cautioned that completely eliminating doping would be unrealistic. The focus, he explained, should remain on strengthening enforcement, improving testing and ensuring that athletes who compete fairly are protected.

The doping issue has affected several prominent Kenyan athletes in recent years. Marathon world-record holder Ruth Chepngetich received a three-year ban in October 2025 after admitting to a doping violation. Albert Korir, winner of the 2021 New York City Marathon, was also handed a five-year suspension in March 2026 after testing positive for a prohibited performance-enhancing substance.

Benard Kibet, who finished fifth in the men's 10,000 metres at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was another athlete suspended by the AIU in 2025. These cases have intensified calls for stronger safeguards within Kenyan athletics, particularly in distance running.

Athletics holds considerable importance in Kenya, where international success can provide athletes with financial opportunities and a route out of poverty. This makes the fight against doping especially significant, as violations threaten both individual careers and the country's wider sporting reputation.

The 2029 World Athletics Championships will mark the first time the senior global competition is staged in Africa, with Nairobi selected as host city. Kenya's successful bid represents a major milestone for the continent and an opportunity to showcase its athletics heritage on home soil.

Kenya demonstrated its strength at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing second in the medal standings behind the United States. The team collected 11 medals, including seven gold, two silver and two bronze.

Coe believes the 2029 event can build on that sporting success while encouraging greater accountability. With several years remaining before the championships, Kenya will be under pressure to sustain its reforms and demonstrate that elite competition can be conducted under strong anti-doping standards.

Although challenges remain, Coe's message was clear: hosting the championships should serve as an incentive for further progress, helping Kenya protect clean athletes and strengthen confidence in its sporting achievements.

Coe Says Kenya’s 2029 World Athletics Championships Can Boost Anti-Doping Fight

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