David Rudisha confident Seb Coe and IAAF can ‘clean up the house’ after corruption and drug scandals

KENYA’S greatest athlete David Rudisha is saddened by the drugs scandal which has clouded his country’s future in the sport, but backs measures to root out the cheats.

David Rudisha, World and Olympic champion training at Lakeside Stadium. Puc: Michael Klein

KENYA’S greatest athlete David Rudisha is saddened by the drugs scandal which has his country’s future in the sport under review.

Pressure continues to mount on Kenya after it missed a World Anti-Doping Agency deadline to prove it has taken significant steps to tackle cheating in athletics.

There has been a spate of positive drug tests among the country’s athletes with fresh allegations of corruption by officials.

Rudisha, who is in Melbourne for Saturday night’s IAAF World Challenge event, said he was hopeful the new revelations would help clean up the sport.

“It’s very unfortunate that sport is full of corruption,” he said.

“It’s a global crisis and unfortunate that it’s happening, especially in the country that I come from which is very sad.”

Rudisha backed new IAAF president Seb Coe to successfully drive a new era in the sport.

``There is lots of hope that he’s going to clean up our sport,” he said.

“We are happy that these guys are being caught, it’s good because it shows that measures are in place and they are cleaning up the house.

Rudisha trained with Andrew Rotich at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne.

“I know it’s hard to monitor every athlete, it’s really tough but I think they need to put more into eduction.

“These athletes who are desperate for success and to make quick money, they fall into such traps which is sad and I look forward to changes which can get rid of this crisis completely.”

This is Rudisha’s fourth visit to Australia to start his season and he calls it his recipe for success.

``I always enjoy coming here and every time I come to Australia I have a good season in Europe and of course in championships,” he said.

``It is a key part of my training because if I train in Kenya from November all the way to the main season which kicks off in May, without a break it is very boring.

``Coming here is also breaking away from that pressure, it’s more relaxed here for a few weeks and when I go back I feel refreshed.”

The reigning Olympic 800m champion was struck down by injuries after the London Games but made a successful comeback to win last year’s world championships in Beijing.

“It was actually the most important moment of my life,” Rudisha said.

``After the injury, where I had keyhole surgery, not many believed that I could make it back, let alone win a major championships.

``Winning that really gave me a lot of confidence towards this season and I have convinced many that I am back.”

The men’s 800m is the headline event of the World Challenge at Lakeside Stadium with Rudisha taking on Australian record holder Alex Rowe, rising star Luke Mathews, Joshua Ralph and James Gurr.

Originally published as David Rudisha confident Seb Coe and IAAF can ‘clean up the house’ after corruption and drug scandals