WADA DEADLINE PIPE DREAM: Anti-Doping Bill goes to Parliament, but time too short to debate it

ANTI DOPING SEMINAR (Seated on chairs From Left) Athletes Mercy Cherono, Milcah Chemos and Janeth Jepkosgey with fellow athletes pose with banners advocating for anti doping after attending an anti doping seminar in Kapsabet, Nandi County. The athletes praised the initiative saying it was long overdue. 15-12-2015. PHOTOS BY: KEVIN TUNOI

Kenyan officials will have to seek an extension from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) to enact the bill to clear way for the nation to be declared compliant with the Wada code.

This is after it emerged yesterday that there won’t be time to take the bill through all the legislative stages and make it law by the April 5 deadline given by Wada.

“The Anti-Doping Bill was brought to the House today so it cannot be debated today. The House Business Committee has already listed bills for discussion. The Labour and Social Welfare committee will then follow the constitutional requirement and subject the bill to stakeholders’ consultations before it returns to the house,” Martin Mutua, Head of Media Relations for the National Assembly, told FeverPitch.

He said Thursday will be reserved for the President’s State of the Nation address only, after which the House will go for recess until April 10.

The development prompted National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) chairman Kipchoge Keino to send a plea to the National Assembly to fast-track the bill “even if it means passing it in one day”.

“The most important thing is that the bill, after many twists and turns, and many acrimonious exchanges and threat to bar Kenya from international competition, is finally in Parliament and ready to be enacted into law.

“With the WADA deadline of April 5 when we must have passed the law prohibiting doping, or we will be declared non-compliant to Wada Code,” said Keino, who is regarded as the father of Kenyan athletics. 

“I am pleading with our members of Parliament to consider the future of this country, the future of the youth of this country and the legacy and spare no effort in passing this Bill into Law so that the President can accent it to Law. Brazil, he said, passed their anti-doping law in a record one day.

He said it would be a disaster if Kenya is banned from Olympics in the event that Wada declares it non-compliant.

“I am pleading with our MPs to rise above all partisan interests and put the nation ahead of everything else to pass this crucial piece of law. It will open the doors to our youths and avoid any doubt in the minds of the world that we are serious with doping matters,” he said.