Coaches and other sports stakeholders could face tougher penalties for promoting doping under proposed changes to Kenya’s anti-doping law, with athletes and administrators backing measures to hold those who encourage the use of banned substances accountable.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe proposals are contained in the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which received support from coaches, athletes, and sports administrators during public participation forums held in Kitale and Bungoma counties.Among the proposed changes welcomed by participants is an expanded scope of accountability targeting individuals who encourage athletes to use banned substances for personal gain, often leaving the athletes to bear the consequences.##NAJAVA_MECA_10066855##The National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee, chaired by Malava MP David Ndakwa, convened the forums to gather public views on the proposed legislation.Participants said the amendments would promote fair competition, protect clean athletes, and strengthen discipline and accountability in sport.Basketball coach Bintiah Kiarie welcomed the plan to hold coaches and other sports stakeholders accountable for promoting doping, saying some encourage athletes to use banned substances to achieve success unfairly.Big shame as world marathon champion joins growing list of suspended athletes“Coaches have been the main culprits in promoting doping among the players they train so that they can achieve success unfairly at the expense of the athletes’ reputation. It is good that, if the law is enacted, they will not go scot-free,” she said.Football coach Tobias Onjila also backed the Bill but called for safeguards to protect athletes’ privacy, particularly under the proposed provisions allowing random and unannounced testing.He urged authorities to intensify awareness campaigns to educate athletes and other sportspeople about the proposed law and the dangers of doping, suggesting that sports tournaments could provide suitable platforms for such initiatives.##NAJAVA_MECA_10067437##“The law needs to protect coaches and players from witch-hunts by rivals who may take advantage of it,” he added.Former rugby player Mark Sawa called for the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to expand its presence beyond Nairobi“Players and sports administrators engaging in doping are in the counties, yet ADAK is stationed in Nairobi. The law should propose devolving the agency to make it more efficient in carrying out its mandate,” he said.Athletics Kenya's statement on Peres Jepchirchir's doping suspensionDuring the forum in Bungoma, Omar Abdi also backed the proposal to penalise coaches who promote doping, noting that athletes have often borne the consequences while those encouraging the practice escape punishment.Eric Wafula called for clearer information on banned substances to prevent athletes from unknowingly using prohibited products.“The law needs to clearly identify or educate athletes on banned substances. Players might be unknowingly using them,” Wafula said.Abiy: Kenya and Ethiopia must turn athletics rivalry into economic partnershipJoseph Otieno urged the Committee to consider including food vendors among those who could face penalties under the proposed law, alleging that some were being used to supply prohibited substances to athletes.Ndakwa thanked participants for their submissions, saying the Bill seeks to amend the Anti-Doping Act to strengthen Kenya’s legal framework for combating doping in sport.“The amendments seek to align Kenyan laws with the revised World Anti-Doping Code, which takes effect on 1st January next year,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_10066897##If enacted, the proposed amendments could affect athletes, coaches and athlete support personnel, sports organisations and federations, gyms and fitness centres, medical practitioners and other health professionals, sponsors, event organisers, ADAK and other relevant institutions.