Harsh Or Not?
Doping is in the news every day and I believe there's no sport where doping is not present. Maybe chess but I'm not sure as there are performance-enhancing drugs for chess players.
When an athlete is caught doping, the punishment is a ban for a certain period of time, usually a few years and if it's not the first time, it can be a ban for life. Obviously the medal is taken away, but other than that, I don't think there's further punishment.
Doping however is a serious crime and it affects not only the athlete but also the team involved in training and the country is well. Every doping scandal is a slap on the face of the country. There's a country that has got so many slaps already that its face should be on fire but it doesn't matter as its athletes are doping regardless.
Anyway, today I came across an article that surprised me.
Kenya plans to impose criminal penalties - including possible jail terms - on athletes caught doping, and it is now working on new legislation on the matter, its sports minister said on Tuesday. source
How about that!
Kenya’s anti-doping and athletics chiefs on Friday disputed figures that put the east African nation as the third-most cheating nation in the sport in terms of biological passport offences. Local media in Kenya listed figures showing that the country had 41 biological passport sanctions, behind India (42) and Russia (87). source
I had no idea Kenya is third on the shame list, I had no idea about India either. Russia I knew it's on first place, that's not a surprise for anyone. Where's China though?
While jailing people is a serious punishment, I believe it's effective if you want to stop doping and maybe the only one that's going to work long term. Banning people temporarily is a solution but how many cases were there proving that's not going to stop athletes. Looks like there are laws in Kenya law giving jail time up to three years but only for support staff found guilty in connection with doping, not for athletes.
Kenya is an important participant in athletics, Kenyan runners are important and would hate to see them banned and jailed. This kind of news would scare everyone I believe.