Young Indian athlete jailed for 3 years in Kenya

In a development that tarnishes India's stature in the sporting world, a 19-year-old Indian athlete has been sentenced to prison for doping offences.

Aman Malik was sentenced for three years on Friday and has been fined one million Kenyan Shillings — roughly Rs 6.9 lakh — after he was found guilty on four counts for possession of banned substances.

Malik was arrested after a multi-agency raid that involved the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. During the raid, the agencies found human growth hormones, meldonium, mannitol, and unused intravenous bags and syringes in his possession in Iten, Kenya.

If Malik defaults on the fine, one year will be added to his sentence. ADAK hailed the sentencing, saying the judgement shows how Kenya is serious in its fight against dope cheats

"This sentencing reflects the seriousness with which Kenya treats offences related to doping, trafficking, the handling of prohibited substances and also portrays ADAK's unrelenting commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sport in Kenya and globally. Kenya in recent months celebrated historic achievements at the World Athletics Championships. Yet, as the court rightly noted, there exists a "dark cloud" in the form of persistent threats from doping activities, which undermine competition and tarnish the nation's reputation," ADAK CEO Peninah Wahome said in a statement.

Athletics Federation of India (AFI) spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla backed the sentencing saying deterrence is the only way to control cheating in sports.

"All drug peddlers must be jailed. I have been advocating criminalisation of doping for at least 10 years now. If Kenya can jail, why can't we?" Sumariwalla told The Tribune on Sunday.

Explaining that greed is the driving force, the former AFI president said the menace could be curtailed by punishing a few coaches.

"If you jail 10 coaches, 90 per cent of the problem gets solved. I have written to them (sports ministry) saying the situation is very bad at the junior level and the only way to curtail it is through deterrence," he said.

"As a federation we do what we can to fight this. We hold seminars, give booklets to our athletes, tell them to take it when they are consulting with doctors. We cannot do anything about the greed, which is the reason for all of this. Greed for jobs, marks or even cash awards is the reason why it is happening. A federation has no control on it, we can only do what is in our control," he added.