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{
    "id": 645135,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/645135/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Lagat",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 64,
        "legal_name": "Elijah Kiptarbei Lagat",
        "slug": "elijah-lagat"
    },
    "content": "because many countries are signatories to it. African countries do not participate very much in athletics because many countries do not have athletes like Kenya. Kenya is the super power in terms of sports. Kenyan athletes always win about 800 races in the world - from the track to marathons. That is why Kenya is a super power and is looked up to by everybody. That is why it is necessary for us to pass this Bill. Secondly, Kenyans have benefited very much in terms of sports. In terms of education, there are track scholarships where athletes run and get education for free, especially in the United States of America. Hon. Ababu Namwamba has mentioned the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Peter Rono, who won the gold medal in the men’s 1,500 metres, was a student in the United States of America. Paul Ereng, who won the gold medal in the men’s 800 metres, was also a student in the United States of America. Julius Kariuki, who won the gold medal in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase was a student in the United States of America. Patrick Sang, who won the silver medal in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, was also a student. The team captain at that time was Ibrahim Hussein, who had also graduated from the university through a track scholarship. These athletes have benefited very much in terms of education and sports because they are sponsored by colleges, which they compete for to earn money for themselves. Sports are also a source of income because these athletes do not run for free. They win money and have changed the lives of many. In Eldoret, most of the buildings belong to athletes. They have changed the societies economically. This is an income that we recognise as a community. The WADA is very necessary because many countries are signatories to it. In Kenya, we have the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), which is not recognised because it has not been put into a law. Even though we have ADAK, it needs to be put into law. If this Bill goes through, it will change a lot in terms of sports. My Chairman has mentioned those banned substances which have affected many athletes. Hon. Ababu mentioned that we lost five athletes in one year because of those drugs. That is why we need to put this law in place. We need this Bill to be passed into law so that we can also penalise those who sell those drugs. There is a penalty for those who sell the drug and for the manager or the coach who supplies the athlete with those drugs. When an athlete wins, the coach gets 15 per cent of the prize money that is won. They also want to earn more money by using these athletes. However, the side effects of these banned substances are bad. My Chairman has said that it affects both men and women. They cannot reproduce because of the side effects. Their parents may be expecting grandchildren but they are not there because of the side effects of these drugs. In order to protect the health of athletes, we need to pass this law. Kenya is a super power in terms of sports. We need to protect our athletes and maintain our position. I have made the Kenyan flag to be raised. In 1997, I won the Berlin Marathon with the fastest time in the world in that year. In 1998, a Brazilian won the Marathon and broke the world record. When I went to Sao Paulo in December, I found the winner and he was a mad man. He won the money but he never enjoyed it because he became mad due to drugs. It is bitter when somebody wins and other people enjoy his or her money because of the side effects of drugs. That is why we need to protect our athletes as a country. We want to maintain the sport and our name because there are very many athletes who are coming up. We need to protect them. I support the Bill. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}