Indian national jailed for three years in Kenya after pleading guilty to doping charges

JKIA magistrate Njeri Thuku ordered that Aman Malik, 19, who was facing four charges in relation to doping serve 12 months for the first charge, if he defaults on paying Sh 1 million fine. In the second charge, he is to serve three years, similarly to the third and fourth charges.

However, the convict will serve all the sentences simultaneously, meaning he will be behind bars for three years.

Njeri ordered that upon Malik serving the sentence, he should be repatriated.

The magistrate said that the sentence was meant to protect the country’s heritage and pride, as athletics unite the country and give Kenya a status in international forums.

 “Courts are called to protect society. Sometimes, they are the last hope for the populace that is ravaged by forced outside it,” said Njeri.

She directed that the prohibited items produced by the Anti-Doping Authority of Kenya (ADAK) in court as evidence should be destroyed by the by the Pharmacy and Poison’s Board after 14 days if Malik will not have filed an appeal.

Malik was arrested on May 5, 2025 at Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet in an multi-agency operation between ADAK and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

He was nabbed with Human Growth Hormone (HGH), Melodonium and Mannitol, which are prohibited substances as they are used for performance enhancement in sports.

He was also found with unused IV bags and syringes, which further raised suspicion that Malik was involved in a doping syndicate.

The sentence is a major win against doping. ADAK has continuously combatted doping in the country to ensure that sportsmen and women have a clean win.

Tens of Kenyan athletes have been hit with sanctions in the last two years despite renewed efforts to stamp out the scourge which has threatened Kenya’s athletics reputation.

Kenya has more than 65 athletes serving bans for doping-related offences and is classified in Category 'A' by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).