Kenya celebrates athletes but more doping probes underway

Men’s 1500m gold medalist Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop celebrates as he crosses the finish line with compatriot and second placed Elijah Motonei Manangoi, left, and third placed Morocco ‘s Abdalaati Iguider

Some of Kenya’s newly crowned track and field world champions returned home yesterday and were ferried to a celebratory breakfast in a convoy of limousines bearing the logo “Hotbed of Champions.”
Javelin gold medalist Julius Yego, 400-meter hurdles champion Nicholas Bett and steeplechase winner Ezekiel Kemboi were among those met at an airport in Nairobi by Deputy President William Ruto, who danced with them on a red carpet.
They will also meet with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, Ruto said. Kenya surprisingly topped the medal table at the worlds in Beijing ahead of Jamaica and the United States.
But while the East African nation celebrates, its track federation head has announced that investigations are underway into the failed doping tests of two team members.
Joyce Zakary, a 400-meter runner, and hurdler Koki Manunga tested positive for banned substances during the championships, further denting Kenya’s reputation after recent allegations of widespread doping and ineffective controls in the country.
On Monday, Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat said investigations were underway in Kenya after Zakary and Manunga were provisionally suspended by the IAAF for failing targeted doping tests in China.
“In spite of being accused of using drugs, Kenya is still on top of the world,” Kiplagat said. “These two girls have given their story and I don’t want to comment on that because they have recorded their statements. Investigations are on.”
The federation had asked Kenya’s new national anti-doping agency to take charge of the investigations, Kiplagat said, even though the body was only set up in February and isn’t officially operating yet.
“(The) IAAF is on top of things. We have asked ADAK to be on top of things too because indications are that we may have leads, and this time if they lead us somewhere, there will be severe punishment,” he said.
Team manager Joseph Kinyua didn’t comment in detail on the two cases when he returned to Kenya with the athletes yesterday.
“Yes there were doping claims but that’s a story for another day,” he said. “We sorted that thing out and sent the girls back home so it did not affect our performance.” 
Mutwiri Mutuota, Nairobi, AP