NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is pushing back against sweeping doping claims following Nairobi’s selection to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, arguing that individual anti-doping violations should not be used to define an entire country or its athletics community.
World Athletics announced on September 15, 2026, that Nairobi had won the right to stage the championships, beating competing bids including London and Rome. The decision will make Nairobi the first African city to host the outdoor World Athletics Championships.
The historic decision, however, quickly became the subject of debate in British media, with several outlets questioning whether Kenya’s doping record should have influenced the choice of host.
The criticism has prompted a strong response from Kenyan officials and sports stakeholders, who say the existence of sanctioned athletes does not justify portraying Kenya as a country defined by doping.
The debate intensified after British publications highlighted Kenya’s record of anti-doping violations following London’s unsuccessful bid.
The Times reported that 318 Kenyan athletes had been sanctioned for anti-doping rule violations since the Athletics Integrity Unit was established in 2017, with athletes including former Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop and marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich among those previously sanctioned.
Another report cited 136 Kenyan athletes currently serving bans, while a separate report citing Athletics Integrity Unit data put the number at 148. The difference reflects the date and source of the figures, but both reports underline the scale of Kenya’s ongoing anti-doping challenge.
The Times argued that awarding the championships to Kenya raised questions about the message being sent by placing athletics’ biggest non-Olympic event in a country that remains under scrutiny over doping.
The criticism came as London’s bid team reacted to losing the competition despite backing from the UK government and the Mayor of London. The British bid carried about £45 million in public funding.
Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Maurice Makoloo, directly challenged the characterisation of Kenya as a “doping country”.
Responding to criticism from The Times chief sports correspondent Matt Lawton, Makoloo said it was “unjustified and incorrect” to portray Kenya as having a “massive doping problem”.
Makoloo defended Kenya’s athletics history and Nairobi’s successful bid, arguing that the country’s achievements extend well beyond the athletes who have faced anti-doping sanctions.
“Kenya has rightfully won the bid to host this event,” Makoloo said, adding that Kenya had “waited too long” for the opportunity and should not be denied its moment.
He also said Kenya would deliver “a clean championship” when Nairobi hosts the event in 2029.
World Athletics has also defended its decision to award the championships to Nairobi.
President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s proposal as “a compelling and emotional bid” and said taking the championships to Africa for the first time would be historic. Coe also stressed Kenya’s place in global athletics.
“Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is woven into the fabric of the country,” he said.
World Athletics has acknowledged the country’s doping challenges while pointing to steps taken to address them. The organisation said the Kenyan government has committed $5 million annually to anti-doping efforts and argued that hosting the championships could strengthen the country’s clean-sport efforts.
A World Athletics spokesperson said Kenya had improved in the area and argued that hosting the championships could act as a “powerful catalyst” for the country’s continued fight against doping.
Nairobi’s selection marks a major change in the geographical distribution of the World Athletics Championships.
The 2027 championships will take place in Beijing, Nairobi will host the 2029 edition, while Munich will stage the 2031 championships. Coe said the sequence would allow World Athletics to take its flagship event across Asia, Africa and Europe.
Nairobi also has previous experience hosting major athletics competitions, including the 2017 World U18 Championships and 2021 World U20 Championships. The 2029 championships will take place at Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing renovations ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
