Man Charged in Court for Making False Doping Allegations Against Kenyan Athletes

A forgery suspect was on Monday arraigned in court for allegedly developing false doping allegations against Kenyan athletes.

Elias Kiptum is believed to be part of an international conspiracy ring that has been making fabricated doping claims against Kenyan sportspersons.

His arrest followed an investigation by detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The syndicate reportedly works with foreign journalists to fabricate information on doping in Athletics Kenya.

Kiptum appeared before the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Court, where he denied 12 charges leveled against him. The court will rule on his bail application on Thursday.

The DCI says Kiptum and his accomplices had prepared documents alleging that doping was being encouraged by State agencies with a view of having Kenya banned from participating in the forthcoming Olympics in Japan.

When sleuths raided his home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on April 18th, they recovered documents bearing Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and Athletics Kenya (AK) letterheads, and suspicious bank slips.

“Forged documents purportedly signed by officials from the Anti-Dopping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and Athletics Kenya (AK) were shared with the Europe-based journalists, who have been part of the ring,” the DCI said in a statement.

Also recovered were contract agreement papers between local suspects and foreign journalists, three laptops, mobile phones, and other electronic gadgets.