Bahrain has suffered a blow following an announcement by the World Athletics Council that will impact the organization’s recruitment of foreign athletes, including Kenyans.
World Athletics in a statement on August 22 announced that the Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA) will now face a ban on acquiring new athletes until 2027.
This comes following a series of historical breaches of anti-doping rules by Bahrain, a country that gained prominence on the global stage in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
This move comes after the recent success of a Kenyan-born athlete who won a gold medal for her adopted country at the Olympics.
The athlete, Winfred Yavi, triumphed in the 3,000 meters steeplechase, setting a new record with a time of 8:52.76.
Her victory was a highlight of the games, overshadowed only by her journey from Kenya to becoming an Olympic champion for Bahrain.
The World Athletics Council’s decision stems from a detailed investigation conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
“In December 2023, the AIU Board issued a notice of charge against the BAA, following a thorough 18-month AIU investigation into the BAA’s compliance with ADR 15, which imposes anti-doping obligations on Member Federations of World Athletics which are separate to the obligations of the World Anti-Doping Code,” read part of the statement.
“The BAA has cooperated with the AIU throughout the process, has admitted the charges, and has agreed the following consequences.”
World Athletics on Bahrain Athletics Association Ban
The investigation, which ended in December 2023, uncovered significant breaches of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) by the Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA).
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These breaches included the involvement of Bahrain athletes in serious anti-doping violations at the Tokyo Olympic Games and the hiring of a coach with a history of breaching anti-doping rules.
World Athletics has imposed several corrective measures on the BAA, with the federation agreeing to be restricted to fielding a maximum of ten athletes at both the Paris 2024 Olympics and the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Additionally, Bahrain will not be allowed to participate in any other World Athletics Series events for 12 months starting June 1, 2024. More critically, the BAA cannot apply for transfers of allegiance or recruit any foreign athletes until 2027.
This decision will have a direct impact on the BAA’s ability to maintain its competitive edge, especially in light of recent achievements by athletes like Winfred Yavi.
Kenyan-born Winfred Yavi wins gold for Arab nation
Yavi, who switched allegiance to Bahrain after facing intense competition for a spot in the Kenyan national team, has been a significant asset.
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Her move to Bahrain was driven by the challenging environment in Kenya, where the competition for places on the national team is intense.
In an interview following her win, Yavi expressed her dedication and the obstacles she faced while trying to qualify for the Kenyan team.
Despite her hard work and multiple trials, she struggled to secure a position, which led her to consider representing another country.
Her decision to switch allegiance was supported by her family and coach, and it has now culminated in an Olympic gold medal.
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