Fury as British Athletics coach attacks Nairobi’s historic 2029 World Championships win

• Nairobi secured the rights after a competitive bidding process against major European sporting capitals, including London and Rome.

A file photo of Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Stadium.

Kenyans on social media erupted in anger following derogatory remarks by a UK-based track and field coach targeted at Kenya’s successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.

The uproar began when X user Luke LRPS (@LukeLRPS), who describes himself in his profile as a 'Track and Field Coach holding a BSc. Physiology and Anatomy', quote-tweeted the official hosting announcement.

Replying to a post confirming Nairobi as the 2029 host city, he wrote: "The world biggest dopers have been rewarded with a home World Championships. If @WorldAthletics cared at all about clean sport this would be the last place selected..."

Following an immediate deluge of backlash, the coach quickly switched his account to protected mode, locking out public access.

Kenyan sports fans, journalists, and public figures swiftly called out the coach for undermining Africa's historic moment and dismissing the nation’s celebrated athletics heritage.

Many attacked him for his prudish attitude, noting that Kenya has produced some of the most historically successful athletes over the last several decades, and Nairobi's choice to host the festivities was the perfect pick.

X user @RunnerKe wrote: "The bitterness is unbelievable. Kenya has carried distance running on its back for decades. Africa deserves this historic moment, stop crying because your lost bid!"

Another Kenyan said: "Classic sour grapes. Instead of celebrating the global expansion of track and field to Africa, you choose xenophobic stereotypes. Nairobi 2029 will be elite!"

On her part, X user Esther Gathoni wrote, "Locking your profile won't change history. Kenya earned this through legendary performances, passion, and world-class capability. See you in Kasarani 2029!"

Yet another Kenyan said: "Focus on your own coaching record. Kenya's athletes undergo rigorous testing worldwide. Discrediting an entire continent’s first World Championships is purely malicious."

Perhaps the best response came from X user @Ngure who wrote: "I hear doping was not a factor. They simply realised Brits come to Kenya to train, then Kenyans go to London to beat them. So they decided to bring the training and the beating under one roof. Nairobi 2029!"

The World Athletics Council made history by officially awarding the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi, Kenya.

This landmark decision marks the very first time the senior flagship event will be staged on the African continent.

Nairobi secured the rights after a competitive bidding process against major European sporting capitals, including London and Rome.

World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe praised Nairobi's compelling and emotional bid, highlighting Kenya’s deep passion for track and field and its status as the second-most successful nation in World Athletics Championships history.

However, the announcement sparked pushback from sections of the British media and sports personalities who highlighted Kenya's recent anti-doping scrutiny.

In response, World Athletics and Kenyan officials reiterated the country's extensive progress, structural reforms, and government funding committed to maintaining anti-doping integrity, confirming that Nairobi is fully prepared to deliver a world-class, clean global event.

Nairobi's pick to host the global event has reignited conversation on the state of doping amongst Kenyan athletes, with many publications and sports pundits revisiting Kenya's record on doping in the athletics world.

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), There are currently 148 Kenyan athletes serving doping bans, second in number only to India.

Once regarded solely as an endurance powerhouse built on altitude training and high-altitude geography, Kenya’s athletic reputation has increasingly become severely undermined as an escalating number of positive drug tests exposed widespread usage of banned performance-enhancing substances.

The crisis prompted intense pressure from global governing bodies, forcing the Kenyan government to pass anti-doping legislation, establish the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), and invest heavily alongside World Athletics to prevent a blanket international ban.

Since the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) was established in 2017, over 300 Kenyan athletes have been handed bans or provisional suspensions, placing Kenya in Category A - the highest risk tier of nations under World Athletics monitoring.

Anti-doping databases reveal that track and field accounts for virtually all cases, with a startling concentration of offenses involving prohibited substances such as Triamcinolone Acetonide, Erythropoietin (EPO), and Norandrosterone.

Reports indicate that Kenya alone accounts for nearly a third of global athletics sanctions related to Norandrosterone, underscoring the localized prevalence of specific illegal substances.

Among the most prominent names implicated over the years are three-time Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo, Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong, and former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang, all of whom received multi-year bans for EPO usage and related circumstances.