Press Release

Drivers and official to be subjected to doping tests in the Safari Rally

Nairobi, Kenya, June 27, 2019—In a first in Kenya’s sports history, the organising Committee of the WRC Candidate Event Safari Rally will carry out random doping tests for officials and drivers as per the Federation Du Internationale I’Automoble (FIA) doping rules.

For the drivers, the rules will be followed to the letter, says Deputy Clerk of Course George Mwangi.

For officials this is not performance enhancing doping testing prevalent amongst notorious cheats in disciplines like athletics but doctors will be going for stuff that dull the nerves and brains like bhangi and alcoholic beverages.

Mwangi says and like athletics, it will be in- and- out -of -competition. One will be picked from the crowd and chaperoned to doping centre where a doctor will first use alco-blow and if need demand more samples from officials.

The FIA is a member of World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) and competitors are no exception. The Chaperone will be required to keep person under observation (visual contact) at all times following Notification until the end of the sample collection session

According to the FIA anti-doping rules a driver caught doping will lose points and prizes at the competition in which you tested positive (both individual and possibly team results).

In addition the culprit will be slapped with a four years, or even lifetime suspension in some case from Motorsport activities including training and other participation.

“It is your personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substance enters your body. – You are responsible for any Prohibited Substance detected in your doping control sample – regardless of whether or not you knowingly ingested, or otherwise used, this Prohibited Substance,” the manual says.

Intravenous infusions and injections are Prohibited Methods if they exceed 100ml per 12 hour period – unless legitimately received in the course of hospital treatments, surgical procedures or clinical diagnostic investigations.