The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) supports the muguka ban, which has stirred political tension in the country. The ban was enacted by Mombasa, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta counties due to the stimulant’s adverse effects on youth.
Despite the issue becoming a political topic discussed at State House and in Parliament, ADAK believes athletes from these counties should welcome the ban.
Muguka contains cathine, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). ADAK views the ban as a positive step in their ongoing efforts to combat doping in Kenya.
“It is a good thing for our athletes so that we protect them for their health and for fair play,” said Dr Martin Yauma, who is in charge of education and research at ADAK,
While the stimulant muguka is prohibited only during competition, Dr. Yauma has advised athletes to avoid using it even out of competition.
Despite being a popular pastime among Kenyan youth, including those involved in various sports, its use is discouraged to maintain overall health and integrity in athletics.
“We advocate that they should not use it because you never know the number of days it will take to get out of the body,” added Dr Yauma, who revealed that ADAK is in the process of increasing surveillance among footballers who are among those who use the stimulant.
“We are revamping education for football because we have realised there is a problem there. We want to do a lot of sensitisation for football so they are aware,” he said.
“Football is so huge so we have just been covering the elite ones at the top because funding is a big problem and testing is very expensive. We just go for the high-risk athletes and areas because at the grassroots [in football], it can be very expensive.”
Muguka has adverse effects on athletes, including increased heart rate, hypertension, and severe mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Grown in Embu, muguka is a variant of khat with effects similar to miraa. This similarity caused issues for Kenyan boxer David Munyasia, who tested positive for the banned substance cathine after consuming miraa shortly before the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Munyasia was the first athlete to fall foul of the rules due to this substance, highlighting the risks associated with consuming muguka for athletes.
