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Kenya under investigation for breaching anti-doping code

In this photo taken Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, junior athletes run past a sign for Athletics Kenya at the Discovery cross country races in Eldoret, western Kenya. Two Kenyan athletes Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga who are both serving a four-year ban for doping at the 2015 world championships say the country’s governing body for track and field chief executive of Athletics Kenya, Isaac Mwangi, asked them each for a US dlrs 24,000 bribe to reduce their suspensions. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) In this photo taken Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, junior athletes run past a sign for Athletics Kenya at the Discovery cross country races in Eldoret, western Kenya. Two Kenyan athletes Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga who are both serving a four-year ban for doping at the 2015 world championships say the country’s governing body for track and field chief executive of Athletics Kenya, Isaac Mwangi, asked them each for a US dlrs 24,000 bribe to reduce their suspensions. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

By Associated Press February 11, 2016 1 min read

The World Anti-Doping Agency says Kenya is being investigated for breaching the global anti-doping code.

WADA says an independent compliance review committee will now evaluate Kenya and make a recommendation to WADA’s board on whether the country should be declared non-compliant with the code.

WADA says it asked Kenyan authorities to show commitment to setting up a national anti-doping agency, but “we have not yet received the details nor the assurances we need from Kenya and, therefore, this is now a matter for our independent compliance process.”

Although being declared non-compliant is unlikely to bring sanctions for athletes, it would be another embarrassment for the East African country, which is under severe scrutiny for its doping record.

WADA expects a decision on Kenya’s status in a few weeks.