Anxiety pumps up as Kamar Etyang awaits Olympics fate

Kenya’s budding 1,500m athlete Kamar Etyang, 19, is praying for his luck and the stars to align in his favour for his chance to be part of Team Kenya for this Summer’s most important sporting event – the Olympics.

The uncertainty to represent Kenya at the Tokyo Olympic Games is obvious cause for anxiety as his fate remains in the hands of World Anti-doping Agency and the Athletics Integrity Unit.

Any 19-year-old athlete like Etyang would relish the chance to race with experienced world beaters at a global show like the Olympics.

According to the rules, Kenyan athletes are required to have undergone three mandatory anti-doping tests as required by AIU and World Athletics, ahead of the national trials. But that never happened for the case of Etyang.

On Monday, Etyang said he had been made aware of the WADA/AIU requirements.

“I know and have been made aware of the prevailing WADA/AIU requirements and even though it wasn’t my fault, there should be ways of implementing the rules without causing the athletes to suffer like previously Michael Kibet and Daniel Simiyu (5000m) and now myself. I strongly believe that I will be able to compete in Tokyo and win a medal for Kenya,” Etyang said throughout released on Monday.

“I’m a believer of clean sport and I fully support ADAK/WADA/AIU in their endeavor to deliver on their objectives and it’s my humble request that they find a way Kenyan athletes can meet the standard without curtailing their dreams. Let the upcoming athletes have faith that if they make it, they are surely in the team.

“I also want to thank the Olympics trials organising committee for giving me an opportunity to compete in the trials even though I didn’t have an Olympics qualification mark back then.”

In February, he had been selected to the Kenyan Under-20 8km race at the postponed African Cross Country Championships in Togo.

On 24th April, he finished second at the Mandela National Stadium, Kampala in a time of 3:36.80 in the 1,500m.

Etyang came second at the national Olympics trials on 19th June, sealing his place in Team Kenya to Tokyo.

He beat big shots, including reigning World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot, George Manangoi, Ronald Kwemoi and Bethwell Birgen among others to post his 1,500m personal best of 3:33:12. He is ranked 12th in the world.

Team Kenya General Manager Barnaba Korir confirms Etyang is still at the Kasarani camp, pending a determination by WADA and AIU.

PHOTO/COURTESY