Why Kenya Stopped Running From Its Doping Past

Kenya, a renowned running powerhouse, has come under intense scrutiny due to a history of cheating scandals in its track and field athletes. The nation has been subjected to an extensive drug testing regime, with no other country competing in the Paris Olympics receiving as much scrutiny. Since 2015, approximately 300 Kenyan athletes have been punished for doping offenses. At one point, there were discussions among track and field officials about the possibility of banning Kenya from the Olympics, similar to Russia’s situation. The consequences of such a ban would have been detrimental to the sport as a whole, given Kenya’s longstanding dominance in track and field dating back to 1968.