Seasoned journalist talks media journey in covering doping menace in Kenya
6th July 2024
fFormer BBC sports presenter Michelle Katami shared her thoughts about the status of doping coverage then and now.
- Doping has been on the rise in Kenya over recent years.
- ADAK has been at the forefront of combating the menace by trying to educate athletes and other stakeholders as much as possible.
This time of year, high-profile anti-doping messages bring
added attention to the sports media ecosystem in the country.
This is the moment Sports Journalists Association of Kenya
(SJAK) partners up with Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) for the annual
“Clean Sport Workshop” -now in its fifth edition.
During this year’s workshop, former BBC sports presenter
Michelle Katami shared her thoughts about the status of doping coverage then
and now.
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Katami, veteran all-round sports journalist formerly with
BBC, SuperSport and Radio Africa Group, has seen doping dynamics morph through
different guises and here’s what she had to say about her long-standing
experience.
“Tackling doping issues back in the day was challenging as
one needed to have 100% facts on the table. During the Isaiah Kiplagat regime –
there was no ADAK, and AK would just release statements – it was difficult to
cover matters doping,” she said.
“Another challenge then was trying to talk to various
sources, trying to convince people in the athletics ecosystem to talk about
doping and what they knew. Following doping leads was key.”
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“The one thing I have learnt over time is ‘duty of care’; to
protect athletes whose lives are in danger, try to shape a different narrative;
just like we did when Kenya was on the brink of a possible WADA ban,”
“When covering doping, you have to have your media house
back you up 100% in terms of resources, you need to develop good working
rapport with athletes and coaches, do your own analysis on performances.
Initially, we would say progression but athletics is changing.”
Katami said in finality: “You have to acknowledge the fact
that the increase in the number of doping cases has been on the rise, more so
in stories featuring Kenyan athletes. In doping, use of the correct terms is of
paramount importance, ‘don’t say banned when an athlete is provisionally
suspended’.”
Michelle Katami is a freelance multimedia African sports storyteller who loves television production, content generation, writing and media relations.
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