World Athletics President Sebastian Coe believes that Sports can be used to raise awareness on the challenge the world is facing on Gender Based Violence.
Coe made the remarks when he met Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya with the two discussing gender based violence and the efforts the efforts being done to ensure clean running.
Coe has expressed confidence in Kenya’s anti-doping efforts, commending the Kenyan government for its commitment to a $5 million annual investment for anti doping.
“We wanted to discuss two key areas,” Coe shared. “One was the ongoing fight in the anti-doping space, which the Kenyan government had been so supportive of all our efforts. And the second key area, and the very prominent challenge, is gender-based violence, not entirely or uniquely linked to sport, but recognizing that we can use sport as a way of raising the profile of this challenge.”
Coe, who was accompanied by Athletics Kenya President Gen. Rtd. Jackson Tuwei, highlighted that the $5 million annual investment has played a crucial role in Kenya’s success, stating that “the funding made available by the Kenyan government has been extremely helpful in this fight.” He further noted that progress has been significant compared to his previous visit two years ago, when Kenya was on the brink of facing sanctions due to rising doping cases.
“I know the Athletic Integrity Unit, which is the independent organization within World Athletics that monitors and conducts all our testing programs, is very satisfied by the progress that is being made,” Coe remarked. He added that there is now a permanent officer from the Athletics Integrity Unit engaged with Athletics Kenya and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, ensuring strong collaboration between the two organizations.
Mvurya commented on Kenya’s sustained fight against doping: “The government of Kenya is committed to ensuring that we continue to strengthen our resolve to have athletes participate in competitions with a lot of integrity.”
“We have remained committed to ensuring that we avail resources every year to strengthen sensitization, testing of athletes, and also to do investigations, as well as making sure that we create awareness for compliance for every athlete,” he added.
The leaders also discussed issues of gender-based violence in sports, where both Coe and Mvurya agreed on the importance of tackling the issue.
CS Mvurya outlined the steps the Kenyan government is taking to address gender-based violence, including the establishment of a secretariat dedicated to the issue. “The government of Kenya has rolled out gender-based violence efforts in sports, and right now we have a whole secretariat headed by a CEO who has made a lot of progress,” Mvurya said.
