Windy, how comes the two kenyans doppers were found positive in China.AK cannot go around the country testing 10,000 (lower number) athletes; those holding competitions should do the testing; many russians, us, turkey and north african have tested positives; and nobody is blaming russia or turkey;
That's not how would look at it. As I see it, the key point is
perceptions. And it is important to note that perceptions do not necessarily have to match reality: the fact that most Kenyan athletes do not dope will not matter much if the world believes that they do.
Why is that important?
If there is one thing that unites Kenyans, especially across the never-ending issue of tribe, it is the pride they take in their athletes on the world stage, the best of whom actually come from just one or two tribes. That pride, in turn, comes from how the rest of the world sees Kenyan athletes, a view that is reinforced every time I listen to commentary on Kenyans in action. So the first thing that has to be recognized is that athletics (especially track) means something much more to Kenyans than to Russians or Turks. The second is that if Kenyans get to be seen by the rest of the world as a bunch of dopers, then much of what is positive will disappear; and, as I have noted, it is the perception that matters. And a third point is that even if it could be argued that 50% (or even 100%) or Russian and Turk athletes are dopers, it would not (a) stop the ongoing worldwide comments on the caught Kenyans, or (b) reduce any reputational damage, or (c) reduce the obligations that Athletics Kenya must discharge.
Kenya is not being blamed here. The parties being blamed are the dopers and Athletics Kenya, which, so far has taken a casual attitude to the problem and has in fact been hostile to those (including some Kenyans) who pointed it out.
We need to be mindful of the fact that on the international stage, Kenya really has just two things: runners and tea. A post-mayhem Sri Lanka and some "creative blending" on the Kenyan side---
at night, as Ms. Waiguru would probably put it---aren't doing much for the "tea portfolio". So ...
AK cannot go around the country testing 10,000
...
those holding competitions should do the testing;
...
The point is simple; before althetes compete in any event; they are tested; and eventually the dopers will get nabbed.
And who is to do the testing? As I see it, the onus is on those with the most to lose. Right now, the organizers of the WC are being praised for doing a good job in catching doping cheats while the dopers and those who sent them there are taking a lot of flak.
AK does not have to test 10,000. But if it chooses a small handful to represent the country on a major international stage, then it has certain obligations. So, did AK test every athlete they sent to Beijing?
Topic: Great showing by Kenyans in Beijing (Read 11138 times)