The World Anti-Doping Agency's compliance review committee unanimously recommended Thursday that Kenya be found in non-compliance with the WADA Code with immediate effect. The surprise move could lead to Kenyan athletes missing August's Rio Olympics if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) so deems. Only the IOC can ban a sport or country from the Olympics. According to WADA, the compliance review committee cited issues with Kenya's new legislation which it says is not in line with the WADA code. "They are sufficiently major changes that they wouldn't be operating under the same rules as everybody else so we need to get it right," WADA president Craig Reedie told Reuters. Under the WADA Code, non-compliant countries and sporting federations risk being prohibited from holding international events. Kenya's parliament had passed, and its president signed, a law last month that will criminalize doping. Many thought that would satisfy WADA's threat to sanction the African nation famous for its middle and long-distance runners. But Reedie said the legislation was not code compliant. "We have been working with Kenya for a number of years and thought we had agreed that the draft legislation and rules were entirely compliant and it would appear that during their parliamentary process changes were made that unfortunately weren't code compliant so we will be in touch with Kenya to try and resolve that at the earliest possible moment." WADA had give Kenya until May to enact the law or be declared non-compliant. Up to 40 Kenyan athletes have failed doping tests since 2012, the biggest name among them being former three-time Boston City Marathon and Chicago Marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, now serving a ban. Athletes urge WADA to ensure Russians are drug-free Russian athletes should be banned from the Rio Olympics unless there are guarantees that they are drug free, the chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) athletes committee said Thursday. Canadian Beckie Scott, the 2002 cross-country Olympic champion, made an emotional plea to the WADA foundation board to use its influence to keep Russian drug cheats out of the Aug. 5-21 Rio Summer Games and protect clean athletes. "We acknowledge that WADA does not have jurisdiction over the Olympic Games," said Scott, who originally won bronze at the 2002 Olympics but was upgraded to gold after two Russians who finished ahead of her were found guilty of doping. "WADA does have, however, influence and clean athletes of the world propose that you use that influence with respect to Rio and Games beyond. "Athletes strongly feel that if there cannot be a guarantee that athletes there from Russia are clean and not involved in doping activity that they should not be there." — Agencies
