Athletics Kenya has issued strict guidelines for a total of 444 selected athletes selected as probables for this year’s Tokyo World Athletics Championships as per the Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) requirements.
Addressing the media today, AK President Lt. Gen (RTD) Jackson Tuwei, said all athletes must comply with the mandatory testing requirements to ensure their eligibility for selection in Team Kenya for Tokyo.
Tuwei said they have already mapped and informed all Kenyan athletes in different parts of the world of the new requirements, which among them requires them to undertake at least three no-notice out-of-competition tests prior to the Championships.
“Pursuant to Article 15.5.1-3 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Regulations, athletes must undertake at least three no-notice out-of-competition tests prior to the Championships. To achieve this, it is the athlete’s obligation to attend mandatory anti-doping education programs organised by AIU, ADAK, or AK and to provide accurate whereabouts information,”Tuwei remarked
All athletes intending to attend the Tokyo World Championship trials or to be included in Team Kenya for the global championship must undergo a minimum of three out-of-competition tests, which must be conducted within a period of 10 months, between October 29th last year and 29th August this year, and must complete the first test by the 24th of next month.
“Athletes are reminded of the mandatory out-of-competition testing requirements for eligibility to compete:
- A minimum of three (3) no-notice out-of-competition tests must be conducted throughout the 10-month period from 29 October 2024 to 29 August 2025.
- The first test must be completed by 24 May 2025. Athletes who do not have at least one no-notice out-of-competition test completed by this date will not be eligible to compete, regardless of the number of tests conducted afterward.
- The final deadline for all out-of-competition tests to be completed is 29 August 2025 at 7pm East Africa Time (EAT).
Besides the doping tests, athletes must meet the minimum set qualification times before the trials .
AK has reaffirmed that no athlete will be selected to represent the country unless they have met the set requirements
Athletics Kenya will conduct the last track and field trials for the Tokyo World Championships between 24th and 25th July this year at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships is set to be held between 13th and 21st September this year in Tokyo, Japan.
Kenya will be defending three titles in this year’s global showpiece, with Faith Kipyegon set to defend her 1,500m and 5,000m gold medals from the 2023 Budapest edition, as well as Mary Moraa, who will be keen on retaining her 800m title.
