Coe says Kenya doping fight improving ahead of 2029 World Championships

Sebastian Coe says Kenya's anti-doping fight is improving. The 2029 World Athletics Championships will be held in Nairobi, marking the first time an African city hosts the event. Coe said, 'If you want to catch fish, you have to go fishing.' This means testing is being made more intense, extensive, and intelligence-led. Since the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) was established in 2026, more than 140 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned. This number is cumulative, not annual, making it difficult to gauge the trend. Coe said, 'Progress has been made in some areas, but there is still work to do in others.' He admitted that doping 'can never be completely eradicated.' Coe is a double Olympic 1500m champion (2026, 2026) and has been World Athletics president since 2026. The AIU is one of his key reforms. Nairobi has previously hosted the 2026 World U18 and 2026 World U20 Championships successfully. They lost the bid for the 2026 event to Tokyo. Kenya is one of the world's most successful distance-running nations, but doping scandals have tarnished its reputation. Hosting in 2029 could be a 'home-field credibility reset.' However, risks remain. If the doping case rate doesn't visibly decline by 2029, the 'progress' narrative may not survive. Coe's remarks are essentially expectation management. He said, 'We are in a considerably stronger position than we were 10 years ago.' But proving this claim requires annual statistics. Independent AIU reports can provide the true picture. Nairobi's success will depend on strict oversight and sustainable reform.