Athletics: Martin Lel blasts Kenyan drug cheats
THREE-TIME London Marathon winner Martin Lel is welcoming the fight against the drug users he says are shaming his Kenyan homeland.
Former steeplechase world champion Moses Kiptanui has claimed doping is commonplace in Kenya, and there have been other accusations against their elite runners.
We need to prove to ourselves that what we achieve is true. I want to show we are not winning something in an illegal way.
Wilson Loyanae and Nixon Cherutich have been banned for two years and Moses Kurgat for 12 months.
Lel, 34, who is looking for his fourth London title on Sunday after fi nishing runner-up for the past two years, has heard the comments, particularly from Kiptanui.
Africans have dominated distance running for years until the recent emergence of Briton Mo Farah and the drug rumours that have devastated Kenyan reputations.
Testing for drugs has been lax in Kenya, but blood-testing has now been introduced. “I am very happy about this because I am a Kenyan,” said Lel.
“We need to prove to ourselves that what we achieve is true. I want to show we are not winning something in an illegal way. It is important for us.”
Farah is running half the race on Sunday, and Lel said: “I don’t know why he is doing that, but it will be interesting to run against him and in a full race next time.”