Kenya has formally entered the race to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with Nairobi submitting its application to stage the competition.
In a statement on Monday, August 10, Athletics Kenya said the government is seeking to bring the senior World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time.
"Kenya has put forward a robust, government-backed bid that is expected to serve as a strong, historic push for the African continent.
"If successful, the selection of Nairobi would mark the first time the senior World Athletics Championships are held in Africa," the statement read.
Athletics Kenya highlighted several major international athletics competitions previously staged locally, including the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, the 2017 World Athletics Under-18 Championships in Nairobi and the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships, also held in Nairobi.
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The country also hosts annual World Athletics Gold Label events, including the Kip Keino Classic track and field meeting in Nairobi and the Sirkwa Classic Cross Country Championships in Uasin Gishu County.
Nairobi further hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.
"The government has committed its full support to the bid, ensuring the necessary organizational framework, security measures, and modern infrastructure required to host a world-class global showpiece," the statement added.
Nairobi will face competition from three major European cities as it seeks to secure the right to host the 2029 championships, with London, Rome and Munich also in contention for the prestigious event.
"The winning host cities for both the 2029 and 2031 championships will be announced by World Athletics after the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary next month," the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, Kenyan-born runner Jonah Koech, who represents the United States in track and field, has been handed a three-year ban after accepting an anti-doping rule violation.
In a statement on Monday, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said the 29-year-old athlete, who is based in Colorado Springs, was found to have returned highly unusual blood values in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).
"This case is proof that the Athlete Biological Passport can both deter and detect doping. To ensure a fair playing field, every anti-doping organization needs this tool and the resources to use it effectively," USADA CEO Travis Tygart said.
According to USADA, the case was triggered by blood samples taken from Koech on July 30 and August 8, 2025.
The samples were collected immediately before and after he won the 1500-meter race at the 2025 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships.
An expert panel unanimously determined that the blood profile shown in the samples was consistent with blood doping.
USADA subsequently collected additional samples from Koech to provide further information for his Athlete Biological Passport.
The expanded blood profile was later reviewed by the ABP expert panel, which reported an Adverse Passport Finding to USADA in February 2026.
Koech accepted a three-year period of ineligibility for the use of a prohibited substance or method that resulted in the Adverse Passport Finding.
