MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A documentary of an investigation carried out jointly by the Sunday Times newspaper and the German ARD/WRD broadcaster, aired on Saturday, claims to have uncovered evidence proving that British athletes have been using the banned EPO drug at a training camp in the Kenyan town of Iten. The footage shows the medics claiming they were paid by UK, Kenyan and other athletes to administer the drug.
“UK Anti-Doping has reviewed the evidence presented to us by the Sunday Times and it is of grave concern and of significant interest. We have opened an investigation and are taking the necessary steps to corroborate the evidence and investigate it further,” the UKAD Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead said, as quoted in the statement.
Sapstead added that the agency could not disclose all the information regarding the probe, however assured that the alleged evidence is being treated “with the utmost importance and urgency.”
“Two UKAD staff are currently in Kenya pursuing a number of lines of enquiry.”
The statement said that the agency has concerns relating to the lack of anti-doping infrastructure in a number of countries.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) declared Kenya in breach of global anti-doping rules in May after a series of drugs and corruption scandals. The country passed a bill to establish a new national anti-doping agency in April.
