- Title: ETHIOPIA-DOPING SCANDAL/REAX Ethiopian athletes react to doping scandal
- Date: 5th August 2015
- Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (AUGUST 4, 2015) (REUTERS) ATHLETES WARMING UP VARIOUS OF ATHLETES WARMING UP, RUNNING AROUND TRACK LONG DISTANCE ATHLETE IMANE MERGA WALKING COACH YILMA GEBREAB TALKING TO ATHLETES (SOUNDBITE) (Oromo) IMANE MERGA, LONG DISTANCE ATHLETE SAYING: "The news doesn't bother me at all. In fact it gives me high moral. We use our natural strength while they u
- Embargoed: 20th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ethiopia
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2M88ARYI6GTPRSLVEC1DXDZ0C
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ethiopia's top runners say they are confident of their future in athletics and are determined not to be affected by the latest doping allegations to rock athletics.
On August 2, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper and German broadcaster ARD/WDR say they were given access to the results of over 12,000 blood tests provided by more than 5,000 athletes over 11 years in a case that could plunge athletics into a new doping crisis.
The tests showed more than 800 athletes had given blood samples that were "highly suggestive" of doping or "abnormal", reported the BBC, who added they had also seen the documents.
In Ethiopia, known for its high endurance athletes, especially long distance runners, training continued as usual.
Imane Merga, winner of the 2011 World Cross Country Championship in Spain and World Athletics Final Gold medallist, said the news had not affected him or his fellow runners, but rather reminded them to train harder.
"The news doesn't bother me at all. In fact it gives me high moral. We use our natural strength while they use some substances. I consider this positive news for our country Ethiopia. It builds a positive image for us because we run with our natural strength while our competitors use drugs to compete with us," Merga said.
According to the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, none of their athletes has come under suspicion in the latest allegations.
But in neighbouring Kenya, which also boasts some of the world's best middle and long distance runners, claims of widespread doping have grown louder. Of the 800-plus alleged cases, reports suggest 77 were Kenyan athletes.
Athletics Kenya dismissed the latest allegations as a smear campaign.
Dozens of Kenyan athletes have failed drug tests over the past few years, casting a shadow over the success of Kenyan athletics.
Merga acknowledged that the allegations had cast a negative spotlight on top long distance running nations, who may now risk sanctions from international competition, and harm athletes reputations and earnings.
"This is really a bad development for long distance world and the competition itself, because these allegations will narrow even further the number of countries that can compete, especially because Ethiopia and Kenya are the dominant countries. Now with this latest saga, the IAAF might rethink on the necessity of the competition itself. Therefore, I think it is a bad development," he said.
Anti-doping officials have in the past expressed concern about drug testing both in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Neither country has an effective national anti-doping agency and independent agencies cannot conduct blood tests in either country because of a lack of world anti-doping agency accredited labs in the region.
Merga said the IAAF should take stringent steps to punish those found guilty as a deterrent to doping.
"I think IAAF is not living up to its responsibilities, because if it banned athletes who are caught in doping for life or stripped them of their honors, I think the world of athletics would be cleaned of such things," he said.
He added that the world athletics body should also work closely with local athletic federations as well as coaches to root out doping.
The World Anti-Doping Agency said it was alarmed by the size and extent of the allegations.
Although abnormal blood tests are not in themselves proof of doping, the release of the data will be an embarrassment to the IAAF just weeks before the world championships in Beijing, where the IAAF will also elect a new president. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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