Các vận động viên người Kenya thiết lập tốc độ cả thế giới, bị bám sát bởi cuộc khủng hoảng doping

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When Kelvin Kiptum, of Kenya, broke the world marathon record (phá kỷ lục marathon thế giới) in early October, he threatened (đe dọa) a landmark barrier (rào cản mang tính bước ngoặt) of human possibility (khả năng của con người): running 26.2 miles in less than two hours in a competitive race.

Kiptum’s time of 2 hours 35 seconds at the Chicago Marathon brought him tantalizingly (một cách đầy trêu ngươi) close to the milestone, a feat (kỳ tích) achieved once — by a fellow Kenyan in a 2019 exhibition — but only by using pacing and hydration tactics (chiến thuật) that rendered the performance ineligible (không đủ điều kiện) for a record.

Yet because Kiptum’s triumph (chiến thắng) came as Kenyan athletics (vận động viên điền kinh) is struggling with an alarming doping crisis, the 23-year-old record-holder — who has not been accused of doping — found himself discussing not only what he had done in Chicago, but what he had not. The record time, Kiptum told reporters when he returned to Kenya, was the product of running 150 miles or more per week at altitude, not the use of banned substances.

“My secret is training,” he said. “Not any other thing.”

...The use of illicit (trái phép, không hợp pháp) blood-boosting drugs (thuốc tăng hoạt động của máu) and other prohibited substances (chất bị cấm), and attempts at cover-ups, have grown increasingly sophisticated (tinh vi). According to the integrity (liêm chính) unit, doping in Kenya is facilitated by a loose network that includes not just runners seeking an edge, but also real and fictitious doctors; fabricated (bịa đặt) documents; fake hospital visits and treatments; pharmacists; coaches; and agents — often as part of schemes that the organization said amount to “criminal conduct (tội hình sự).”

source: nytimes,