Kenyan Athletes Face Doping Ban, Governance Demands, and Safety Concerns - October 2025

Legendary Kenyan athletes are demanding a fair and transparent Athletics Kenya (AK) constitution following a Court of Appeal order from March 2025, pushing for the right to elect executive officials. Simultaneously, the sport faces a doping scandal, as middle-distance runner Esther Gitahi was banned for four years after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO). Her ban is retroactive to August 6, 2024. Athlete safety is also a major issue, with an athlete in Iten advocating for a collaborative effort to eliminate individuals who impersonate coaches. There are prevalent concerns among athletes and security agencies about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in training camps. These imposters are reported to prey on young girls and boys.