World Athletics chief signals Kenya making progress on doping crisis

World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe has indicated that Kenya is making meaningful headway in combating its persistent doping problem, positioning the East African nation as capable of hosting a major international athletics competition in four years' time.

Kenya's anti-doping record has been a longstanding concern for the sport's governing bodies. Since 2017, more than 140 athletes from the country have been sanctioned for doping offences, reflecting systemic challenges in testing procedures, athlete education, and enforcement mechanisms.

Coe's remarks suggest that recent interventions and institutional reforms have begun to yield results. The World Athletics Championships, scheduled for 2029 in Kenya, represent a significant vote of confidence in the country's commitment to clean competition, though international scrutiny of the nation's anti-doping infrastructure is likely to intensify ahead of the event.

The championships will be a major test of Kenya's revised protocols and regulatory frameworks. Success in hosting the event with demonstrably improved standards could reshape perceptions of the country's athletics programme and its ability to maintain competitive integrity at the highest levels of international sport.