The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has warned youths from over 20 counties taking part in the 6th edition of the Kenya Youth Inter-Counties Sports Association (KYISA) games over doping.
The games including football, volleyball and basketball for both boys and girls officially kicked off on Monday at Busia County Stadium.
Officers from the anti-doping body including Kennedy Mwai, Daniel Ndungu, Walter Omwenga, Rooney Sumba, Dr Festus Kiplamai and Tim Ngugi took the players and officials through the 11 stages of doping control and inherent dangers.
Athletes were told to be knowledgeable and comply with all anti-doping policies and rules.
They were told that they should not at any time possess prohibitive substances which attracts a jail sentence of four years.
” Economic consequences of indulging in prohibitive substances include loss of sponsorship and income with social consequences being isolation from peers and damaged relations with friends and family among others, “Ngugi said.
Omwenga said that doping has dented Kenya’s image.
He added that World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) prohibits list of banned substances includes Steroids, Insulin, stimulants, narcotics, cannabis, gene and blood doping, human growth hormone and Epo (Erythroprotein) that gives rise to hypertension and risk of heart attack.
Sumba clarified that alcohol is not a prohibitive substance, noting that the decision is left to federations.
ADAK also advised the athletes to say no to food supplements since most of them are not regulated, thus can contain steroids.