By Norman Katende

OFFICIALS from the World Anti-Doping Agency will be in the country to test for banned substances during the fifth edition of the MTN Kampala International Marathon.

National athletics federation official Faustin Kiwa yesterday confirmed that they had successful talks with the officials, who will be in the country days to the annual MTN Kampala International Marathon that is set for November 23. Registration for the marathon will end next Friday.

“They are coming I can confirm. That is one of the requirements for a marathon to become international,” explained Kiwa, a certified IAAF Course measurer.

The doping team always has a South African, a Kenyan and four officials from the national anti-doping agency and the organizers are expected to cater for their costs including external flights.

“They will be a doping centre for the top performers. It will be random for all elite runners,” said Kiwa. Kiwa said that they had excluded two hills from last year’s route, though he added that the course was still challenging.

“We basically looked at the health of the runners most especially against the flowing traffic.”

The marathon, will have subsidiary events in the half marathon and 10km events.