December 8, 2025 • 22 mins
This week, our hosts Amit and Mihir are joined by The Indian Express’ Nihal Koshie to discuss the story of the boy who ran into trouble. Aman Malik, a budding long-distance runner from Haryana got embroiled in a doping scandal in Kenya and is sentenced to three years in jail. We discuss his journey and what it indicates about the drugs menace in sports.
To read the story, click here: https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/budding-long-distance-runner-haryana-doping-scandal-kenya-10392324/
Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed Suresh Pawar
To read the story, click here: https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/budding-long-distance-runner-haryana-doping-scandal-kenya-10392324/
Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed Suresh Pawar
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
In May twenty twenty three, a seventeen year old boy
from Haryana, Sonypat Aman Malik, traded his home for the
Kenyan town of Ethan, where Olympic medalista fores regularly since
the nineties. But a month's Olympic dream turned into a
nightmare soon enough. In September twenty twenty five, a court
in Nairobi handed him three years in jail for being
(00:24):
part of an organized network that assists Kenyan athletes get
banned substances. A few days back, an article in The
Indian Express written by my colleagues Mihir Wassauda and Nihal
Koshi highlighted the story where they managed to reach out
to Aman, who's currently in a Kenyan jail, to understand
(00:45):
his version of events. And that is the piece that
we are going to talk about today in this episode
of Game Time podcast. Hi, this is Ahmad Kamat and
joining me are Nihal Koshi and Mihir Wassauda.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hi, Nihal him, how's it going on? Well?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Better than others, I guess, But maybe Nihal just wanted
to understand from you first before we get into the
story itself. Can you just tell us a little bit
about this lure of this town called Eaton. Why is
this looked at us such a magical town in Kenya?
And besides ae are there other Indians maybe competing there
(01:23):
or training there.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So Eaton is popularly called as a home of champions.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's in Kenya, it's in the Rift Valley area, and
there is in a running culture there for a while
since the late eighties. So how it started off was
there was the Saint Patrick's School, which did well in
a couple of other sports like volleyball. But there was
a father who came there, a brother who came there,
and he watched others train and he thought that long
(01:48):
distance running is something he can coach these kids in.
And then it worked, it click because suddenly there was
a camp for running. Initially it was for the girls
in the school and it was done during the break.
But as the popularity increase, then it became like a
full fledged camp, full fledged camps for school students. Then
over the years it picked up and then people realize
that okay, there's a long distance running is something we
(02:09):
can do well. And once Kenya started winning medals, you
know at the junior level and then the senior level.
Then it just mushroomed like there are a lot of
foreign coaches wanted to figure out, like why people from
this part of the world are doing so well, So
they came there, they wanted to study what's happening, and
they set up their cams at threes followed, few manufacturers followed.
(02:30):
The whole ecosystem built so that way. That is how
it has been and so in a way, that has
been the home of champions and it's produced so many,
I mean many Olympic and World champions.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
So that is the story of iten And it's such
a high altitude. With high altitude, you know why it
works for long distance runners. It helps build endurance. Low
oxygen levels, but you can build endurance.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
And then when you run on at venues which are
not at such a high sea level, then it's advantage.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So that is one of the reasons that the item
has become popular. And of course there are.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Many theories why runners from that part of the world
are good in long distance.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
If I'm just that like the theories that Neil said, right,
I mean one of the theories is that Iton is
home to this Kalingin tribe. Now they are known for
their endurance and long legs, and most of Kanya's top
athletes are from this tribe. So there's also this whole
genetic factor which is involved. And I mean, so many
(03:25):
athletes from Kanya, right David Rudisha, the eight meter Olympic
world record holder, we trice, but they're all from its
long history, long tradition, and also a mix of the
genetics over there, if we can say that.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Right now, me coming to the case, I mean, it's
one of those cases where it does seem like the
athlete among in this example. In this case, he's been
caught kind of red handed because when there was a
raid on his room, they found like a whole.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Suitcase apparently filled with prohibited substances.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
On top of that, the guy himself seems to have
accepted that he was involved in something shady. Now, can
you just maybe recount how this all went down?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So Aman went to eaton May twenty twenty three. He
was only seventeen years old back then, and he dreamt
of being this Sylympic run Olympic medalist. And before going
to Kenya, he tried out, you know, running in Taramshala
in Rota at an academy over there, but he wanted
high altitude training. And I mean, like we've explained in
(04:31):
the story, there's this entire route that a lot of
athletes from India try and take is to join the
turning camps in career. And he heard about it apparently online,
That's what his brother says. They aren't sure. Maybe Nial
spoke to his coach, might have told him something different,
but he got in about these running camps in Eton,
(04:51):
and the family dipped into their savings, most of their savings,
and sent him over there. And exactly two years later,
in May twenty twenty five, he was caught. So the
Directorate of Criminal Investigation, this sleuths from there followed him
from his training base in it into his room and
there they found an entire suitcase filled with prohibited substances.
(05:12):
This is the phrase that the Kenyan court documents have used.
So he had supplements and medication and position which they
claim he unlawfully brought into Kenya and not just consumed them,
but also distributed them among Kenyan athletes.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Right, Neel wanted to understand from you, how insant does
that kind of sound that you have a person who's
apparently taken a whole suitcase full of I mean prohibited substances,
or at least he's found with a whole suitcase full
of prohibited substances in room. Like have you maybe tried
and understood how he's managed to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Among these prohibited substances slash performance and as in substances
like human growth or there were also regular drugs you know,
prescription druns. The thing in Kenya is like, I'm sure
the law there also and in many countries you cannot
transport these dugs into the country without a license. So
that was one plus he had these prohibited substances. Now
(06:08):
what we gather, we can't be sure how the whole
thing happened because we have believing individual versions. We are
building the Amen's version. We are believing his coach, ab Deshnagar.
So in the court documents it is mentioned that Amen's coach,
ab desh Nagar is the one who gave him these
prohibited substances. Now Amand says Aman does not want to
(06:30):
name him. And abdesh Nagar who I met here in
Delhi in Mayua. Now Abdshnagar is also an interesting character.
Now Abdeshnagar used to be a runner he's participated in
the under eighteen Asian Championships till twenty seventeen. Then he
says that he had a injury and after that he
couldn't run, So he made an attempt at starting a
running academy, which didn't work because obviously he didn't have.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Access to a crowd.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Then what he realized is if you s see his
Instagram handles, he has about three hundred thousand followers. On
one he realized that when I was growing up, when
I was an athlete, there was no one to advise
me on what are safe supplements. See now there are
safe supplements, there are Badge tested safe supplements which India's
top athletes also take. But he said that he felt
that nobody was there to guide him. And also access
(07:14):
to safe supplement wasn't easy because it was expensive. So
what he did was, of all countries, he went to Russia,
this is what he says, and he brought safe supplements
to India and he started an Instagram channel where he
tells boys, this is a safe supplement.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
If you want endurance, you take this.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
When to take it, this is another safe supplement, and
he says he sells it at bar game prices, So
because of that, he has a lot of followers, because
I mean, we know in India, so now there is
people want to win medals because once you win a medal,
so many doors opened, like a college.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Admission, prize money.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Even you don't even have to win a like a
Asian Games medal, even if you win a national medal.
So people are eager to know that to get the edge,
what supplement can I take? And this guy has trained
in Kenya, So up Day comes into the picture because
he has trained in Kenya as active athlete. He's been
there and he tells me that he's been there thrice.
So he says that like if you want to go
to Iten and train, you can go there. You'll get
(08:08):
a room with thattached bath which you may share with
one or two or other runners. There's a running culture there,
so you'll get a room for around seven thousand bucks
and then you join one of the running camps.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
So he's been there before.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
So Aman probably heard about this place on the internet
and through a common friendly contacted Updash Updish went.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
There with him to help him settle.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Now this claims that he only took a parcel from
acquaintance of Amal, and he didn't know what the contents were.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So yeah, that is the story.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
And he kept going to Kenya on and off because
this also has a shoe business. So now these running
shoes either first copies or if you go to Eighten.
There are a lot of Kenyan runners and many of
them are sponsored. So these big shoe companies give them
many pairs. They may not need so many pairs, so
they give it to Updish at a discounted rate, and
he here with a bit of a margin, sells it.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So if you see his Instagram account, you.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Can get a top shoe which cost twenty thousand for
about six seven thousand.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Five THOUSD.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
So that's a boon for the younger other So that
is update stagger. So yeah, so what happened exactly how
Amen got it, we don't know, but he admits that yes,
some seniors told him to take this because it will
help in improving his performance.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
But he says that I didn't know it was banned,
so he says that I took it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And another interesting thing was when the raid happened, there
was a one page contract between Amen and another athlete
which said that Amen was supposed to give him what
it takes for him to improve, and he would give
a part of his earnings to Amen. So that is
a key thing because that is what the authorities say
that he was transporting slash distributing this, but Aman says
that there was an agreement, but I never supplied, So
(09:37):
that is a situation me.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
As Nihal pointed out, you know, there's this guy called
Abdis Shnagel who's a very fascinating character in this whole
scenario where the Kenyan authorities believe, or at least they've.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Named him as Aman's coach.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
He himself claims that he took some package and maybe
gave it to Aman, And if you look at his
Instagram right now, he seems to be in in Kenya
right now.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
So while Aman is.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Currently behind bars, this guy seems to be in Kenya
like filming videos telling.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
The world that you know, this is how Kenyan runners
train all of those things. So it's a very fascinating thing.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
And one of the things that stood out, you know,
in the piece that you guys wrote, was that maybe
the Kenyans wanted to set an example, but not necessarily
with one of their own. They wanted to set an
example with somebody who was I mean, you know, one
of those collateral damage, Like, is that the sense you
kind of got when you talk to Aman, when you
(10:35):
talk to maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
A dish Hie. Yeah. First of all, you're right about
updish is if we were to just go buy his Instagram,
he lives quite a life. He portrays himself as his
influencer and he rooms around the world. He's put his
videos from Russia, from Kanya, from Delhi. He's proper influencer life.
The other thing, I mean, it's tough for us to
(10:57):
say exactly what is happening because I mean, I don't
think anyone we've spoken to us denying that Aman was
either consuming these substances or you know, he was in
position of that I think common when he spoke to
Nihal from the jail, that's also interesting story I think
which Neil should narrate his conversations with Aman. But Aman
(11:18):
did deny the fact that he was distributing the drugs.
But when I spoke to Amand's brother, who is in Mumbai,
who's chasing this whole Bollywood dream of his season, aspiring
actor Aman's brother, Ahmit says that you know, many conventions
he's had with his younger brother. He said that, you know,
everyone takes performance and licen drugs here and no one
(11:39):
gets punished, but I have been. And they say that
it's to set an example, because there were plenty of
instances that led to amos sentencing. Right. So, first of all,
it was the World Antidoping Agency which had called out
Kenya for being non compliant with the Antidoping Code and
asked them to get their act in order. And then
(12:01):
there were these string of dope cases which had tarnished
Kria's image as a running hub. Since twenty seventeen, nearly
one fifty Kerrian athletes, most of them long distance fellers,
have been sanctioned for drug creator offenses. Now, I think
what happened is Amon got caught at a time when
the pressure on Kria was building to act. And what
(12:22):
Aman and his brother, and I think also his lawyer
over there, say that, you know, they wanted to make
an example out of Ammon, give him a prison sentence
so that since it will become an international case, they
can show to the world that they're acting on this issue.
And that's what seems to have happened, right, now.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Neel obviously wanted to understand from you, how does somebody
reach out to an inmate in basically a Kenyan jail
And what are the kind of things that maybe you
know you could not fit into the story because obviously
if you have word constraints in a newspaper, But are
there other things that you found maybe that stood out,
maybe you found fascinating.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
From Aman's version of events.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yarman, like the court papers indicates that he's part of
the syndicate with supplies drugs. Now, I don't want to
make a judgment sitting here, but I feel that he
wasn't a part of a white network.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I would be very surprised if he was part of.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
A white network or if he was the one who
was supplying drugs to a lot of Kenyan athletes. When
I said drugs, I mean performing enhancing substances. Maybe at
this stage, I don't think I'll be very surprised if
there's a network from India which is going there and
supplying drugs. I feel is a very small fright. I mean,
I could be wrong, because Kenya has has over the years.
Now their reputation has taken a hit because of so
(13:37):
many doping cases that it can't be this oneman who
went there in twenty twenty three, who has supplied all
these drugs, or is he part of the international syndicate
or a doping ring with supplies drug I doubt.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I think he was there.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
He was trying to get an edge and win some medals,
win an international medal somewhere at one of the lower meats,
and then you know, it opens doors again.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It helps.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
And maybe he had the intention and he was planning
to supply to the other athlete, or maybe he did.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
We don't know.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But it's not on a large scale I'll be very
surprised it was on a large scale basis. But yeah,
the rules are rules, and yeah, so that's what it
is now. If you have a rule in a country
and you break it, unfortunately, there are consequences. But amand
Yah frankly is a little desperate to get out of
there because you know, a Kenyan jail, there are a
language issue, there is a full issue. I mean he's
(14:24):
from Sony pat so he's not going to eat. I mean,
Hugai is not his Dishe is just comfort food for him.
And life is a bit tough, I mean tough in
the sense that you are with thirteen mates, it in
about four small rooms, and then you have to do
sort of work during the day. He works at a
hospital there and flies and away from home. His mother
is all alone at home. He feels homesick, of course.
(14:47):
And I don't think he ever thought he'll get into
even if he thought he may get caught. He just
thought that it could be like it is in India
where you get banned. He didn't think he would land
up in a Kenyan jail. In there when he went
to he claims he was wanted to win a medal
for India. Yeah, so he's a little frustrated, little sad,
little disappointed, little upset, as you can expect any young
(15:07):
boy who's in a foreign jail.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
So he's reaching out to people.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
He's hoping that the Indian High Commission in Kenya, or
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or someone is.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Able to help him.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
That He says that I'm ready to come to India
and face anything if you want to put me in
jail in India, put me bad me.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
But at the moment it seems that he will be
there for a while at least.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
And Neil just to follow upon that, are there any
provisions that he can a will to get back to
India now that he's been jailed there.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Yeah, So the lawyer who represented Probodo said that he
would reach out to the High Commission there and we
reached out of the Foreign Ministry also, which Mehi will say.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
What they said. But the other option that's the lawyer
gave us.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
There's a power of Mercy committee there, so you can
recommend and if they feel it's a genuine case, they
can recommend it to the Kenyam President and the Kendyam
President could pardon you. But it's not very clear if
that is applicable to a foreigner or not. But that
is what the lawyer wants to do. So the lawyer,
I think what I've got in touch with them and
yesterday or today again to see what can be done
to help him. But the thing in this case is
(16:12):
no three years is the minimum punishment. So if they've
given him four years, they could have appealed in the
local courts for three When the court gives a minimum
punishment of three years, who will reduce it? I mean,
so maybe through the power of mercy committee may be
able to come back door.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Know, they's all just hope for back at the moment, and.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was with
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs we reached out to.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Yeah, so we spoke to the Ministry of External Affairs
and they said that you know, they've been in touch
with them. And ever since the case came to light,
he sought consular access and people from the High Commission
in Nairobi went and met him. They checked on his health,
they found him to be in a healthy state, and
once he was sentenced, the High Commission also requested the
(16:56):
Kenaian authorities that whatever best facilities were possible as for
the Indian laws, they be extended to amen. But where
there could be a hiccup for in the coming days
as he seeks repatriation is that the sentencing is very
clear that he can be sent back to India after
serving his three years, and there is no agreement or
(17:19):
understanding between India and Canye. There is no bilateral understanding
where an offender in Kenya can be sent back to
India where he can serve out his sentencing. So since
there is an absence of any such agreement, the chances
look tough. For Aman to come back and serve the
remainder of his prison sentence in India as he hopes.
(17:40):
But at the same time, the AMEE officials have said
that whatever happens in the future going forward, if the
family reaches out to them more, if the lawyer reaches
out to them, they'll see what steps can be taken.
Just one last thing I wanted to understand.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
We've spoken a lot about the hit that Kenya's image
has kind of taken over the last couple of yours.
You mentioned that, you know, there were at least one
fifty Kenyans who been sanctioned since twenty seventeen, things like that,
But has India's image also taken a hit considering you know,
India always is a country that is now usually very
(18:14):
high in the doping offenses list. Every time WADA puts
out an annual list, India is I think usually around
top three, top five types. So this case, in particular,
with the Kenyans pointing finger to an Indian as they
like to call it, a supplier in a sense or
part of an organized ring, will that also kind of
have other ripple effects for Indians as a whole.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
In track and field it's interesting, right, the whole thing,
and it kind of also points at how the whole
system works. Again, like Nil said, we don't know if
Amon was a part of a syndicate, as the Kenaian
quote has hinted or mentioned in the order. We don't
know for sure what happened there, but it gives a
very interesting insight into how this whole performance. And then
(19:01):
saying drug's network works, I mean Kenya and India two
countries which are really suffering from this whole menace. Kenya
we've mentioned, India has been the one of the highest.
It's been, in fact, the top two or top three
doper fender countries in the last five years six years
across sports, especially in athletics. And if you recall a
(19:22):
myth when the Indian delegation that is pitching for the
twenty thirty six Olympics went to meet the International Olympic
Committee earlier this year, they were told very categorically by
the IUC that you know, you should first fix your
doping problem. So India does have this big doping menace,
and there are so many wals within wheels in this
and how the entire say, for example, of the Shnagar again, like,
(19:45):
we don't know what the truths are about this case,
but when Nial met him, when Nil spoke to the
fact that he's getting medication from Russia and selling it
for cheap in India, that is a red flag, I think.
And who knows how many such players are the in
the market and providing drugs for cheap two Indian athletes
who want to have that slight advantage over those so
(20:07):
that they can win races and get jobs or get
cash prizes or whatever there is on or four. So
it is a sophisticated network. Just that where Amon fits
in this whole network is something we haven't been able
to understand yet. I think, what do you think? Yeah,
I agree with you. We can only take a face
value what they tell us.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
But like I said, like yeah, Am admitted that he
had the drug with him prohibit substances and that he
was told that this will help him.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
So yeah, we'll have to. I don't know what to
make out of it.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I mean, it could be part of a supply chain
where they take drugs then ask these young athletes there
to use it or to distribute it further.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
It could be I'm not saying I'm as part of it.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
It could be that, you know, because everybody's hungry for success,
or it could be just one chap trying his best
to get an edge getting caught.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Right, Neil Meir, thank you so much for taking the
time out and discussing this way fascinating case. I think
it's one of the most interesting cases that we've heard
and with like real life ramifications for somebody who's in
the thicket of it. As you said, we don't know
all the answers, but hopefully in the coming weeks months,
we will be able to unravel what has happened, who
(21:23):
is at the center of it maybe, or what is
as Mio said, where does amun fit into all of this?
Easy just like a casual bystander who wanted to get
an edge, or easy actually part of a very sophisticated
doping syndicate. But well, that's all the time we have
for this week's Game Time episode. Thank you, thank you
Nehal once again, and thank you for listening. We'll be
(21:45):
back next week with another episode where we take a
deep dive into something that everybody should care about.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
You were listening to Express Sports by the Indian Express.
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(22:18):
Express dot com.
In May twenty twenty three, a seventeen year old boy
from Haryana, Sonypat Aman Malik, traded his home for the
Kenyan town of Ethan, where Olympic medalista fores regularly since
the nineties. But a month's Olympic dream turned into a
nightmare soon enough. In September twenty twenty five, a court
in Nairobi handed him three years in jail for being
(00:24):
part of an organized network that assists Kenyan athletes get
banned substances. A few days back, an article in The
Indian Express written by my colleagues Mihir Wassauda and Nihal
Koshi highlighted the story where they managed to reach out
to Aman, who's currently in a Kenyan jail, to understand
(00:45):
his version of events. And that is the piece that
we are going to talk about today in this episode
of Game Time podcast. Hi, this is Ahmad Kamat and
joining me are Nihal Koshi and Mihir Wassauda.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hi, Nihal him, how's it going on? Well?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Better than others, I guess, But maybe Nihal just wanted
to understand from you first before we get into the
story itself. Can you just tell us a little bit
about this lure of this town called Eaton. Why is
this looked at us such a magical town in Kenya?
And besides ae are there other Indians maybe competing there
(01:23):
or training there.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So Eaton is popularly called as a home of champions.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's in Kenya, it's in the Rift Valley area, and
there is in a running culture there for a while
since the late eighties. So how it started off was
there was the Saint Patrick's School, which did well in
a couple of other sports like volleyball. But there was
a father who came there, a brother who came there,
and he watched others train and he thought that long
(01:48):
distance running is something he can coach these kids in.
And then it worked, it click because suddenly there was
a camp for running. Initially it was for the girls
in the school and it was done during the break.
But as the popularity increase, then it became like a
full fledged camp, full fledged camps for school students. Then
over the years it picked up and then people realize
that okay, there's a long distance running is something we
(02:09):
can do well. And once Kenya started winning medals, you
know at the junior level and then the senior level.
Then it just mushroomed like there are a lot of
foreign coaches wanted to figure out, like why people from
this part of the world are doing so well, So
they came there, they wanted to study what's happening, and
they set up their cams at threes followed, few manufacturers followed.
(02:30):
The whole ecosystem built so that way. That is how
it has been and so in a way, that has
been the home of champions and it's produced so many,
I mean many Olympic and World champions.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
So that is the story of iten And it's such
a high altitude. With high altitude, you know why it
works for long distance runners. It helps build endurance. Low
oxygen levels, but you can build endurance.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
And then when you run on at venues which are
not at such a high sea level, then it's advantage.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So that is one of the reasons that the item
has become popular. And of course there are.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Many theories why runners from that part of the world
are good in long distance.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
If I'm just that like the theories that Neil said, right,
I mean one of the theories is that Iton is
home to this Kalingin tribe. Now they are known for
their endurance and long legs, and most of Kanya's top
athletes are from this tribe. So there's also this whole
genetic factor which is involved. And I mean, so many
(03:25):
athletes from Kanya, right David Rudisha, the eight meter Olympic
world record holder, we trice, but they're all from its
long history, long tradition, and also a mix of the
genetics over there, if we can say that.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Right now, me coming to the case, I mean, it's
one of those cases where it does seem like the
athlete among in this example. In this case, he's been
caught kind of red handed because when there was a
raid on his room, they found like a whole.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Suitcase apparently filled with prohibited substances.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
On top of that, the guy himself seems to have
accepted that he was involved in something shady. Now, can
you just maybe recount how this all went down?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So Aman went to eaton May twenty twenty three. He
was only seventeen years old back then, and he dreamt
of being this Sylympic run Olympic medalist. And before going
to Kenya, he tried out, you know, running in Taramshala
in Rota at an academy over there, but he wanted
high altitude training. And I mean, like we've explained in
(04:31):
the story, there's this entire route that a lot of
athletes from India try and take is to join the
turning camps in career. And he heard about it apparently online,
That's what his brother says. They aren't sure. Maybe Nial
spoke to his coach, might have told him something different,
but he got in about these running camps in Eton,
(04:51):
and the family dipped into their savings, most of their savings,
and sent him over there. And exactly two years later,
in May twenty twenty five, he was caught. So the
Directorate of Criminal Investigation, this sleuths from there followed him
from his training base in it into his room and
there they found an entire suitcase filled with prohibited substances.
(05:12):
This is the phrase that the Kenyan court documents have used.
So he had supplements and medication and position which they
claim he unlawfully brought into Kenya and not just consumed them,
but also distributed them among Kenyan athletes.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Right, Neel wanted to understand from you, how insant does
that kind of sound that you have a person who's
apparently taken a whole suitcase full of I mean prohibited substances,
or at least he's found with a whole suitcase full
of prohibited substances in room. Like have you maybe tried
and understood how he's managed to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Among these prohibited substances slash performance and as in substances
like human growth or there were also regular drugs you know,
prescription druns. The thing in Kenya is like, I'm sure
the law there also and in many countries you cannot
transport these dugs into the country without a license. So
that was one plus he had these prohibited substances. Now
(06:08):
what we gather, we can't be sure how the whole
thing happened because we have believing individual versions. We are
building the Amen's version. We are believing his coach, ab Deshnagar.
So in the court documents it is mentioned that Amen's coach,
ab desh Nagar is the one who gave him these
prohibited substances. Now Amand says Aman does not want to
(06:30):
name him. And abdesh Nagar who I met here in
Delhi in Mayua. Now Abdshnagar is also an interesting character.
Now Abdeshnagar used to be a runner he's participated in
the under eighteen Asian Championships till twenty seventeen. Then he
says that he had a injury and after that he
couldn't run, So he made an attempt at starting a
running academy, which didn't work because obviously he didn't have.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Access to a crowd.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Then what he realized is if you s see his
Instagram handles, he has about three hundred thousand followers. On
one he realized that when I was growing up, when
I was an athlete, there was no one to advise
me on what are safe supplements. See now there are
safe supplements, there are Badge tested safe supplements which India's
top athletes also take. But he said that he felt
that nobody was there to guide him. And also access
(07:14):
to safe supplement wasn't easy because it was expensive. So
what he did was, of all countries, he went to Russia,
this is what he says, and he brought safe supplements
to India and he started an Instagram channel where he
tells boys, this is a safe supplement.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
If you want endurance, you take this.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
When to take it, this is another safe supplement, and
he says he sells it at bar game prices, So
because of that, he has a lot of followers, because
I mean, we know in India, so now there is
people want to win medals because once you win a medal,
so many doors opened, like a college.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Admission, prize money.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Even you don't even have to win a like a
Asian Games medal, even if you win a national medal.
So people are eager to know that to get the edge,
what supplement can I take? And this guy has trained
in Kenya, So up Day comes into the picture because
he has trained in Kenya as active athlete. He's been
there and he tells me that he's been there thrice.
So he says that like if you want to go
to Iten and train, you can go there. You'll get
(08:08):
a room with thattached bath which you may share with
one or two or other runners. There's a running culture there,
so you'll get a room for around seven thousand bucks
and then you join one of the running camps.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
So he's been there before.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
So Aman probably heard about this place on the internet
and through a common friendly contacted Updash Updish went.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
There with him to help him settle.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Now this claims that he only took a parcel from
acquaintance of Amal, and he didn't know what the contents were.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So yeah, that is the story.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
And he kept going to Kenya on and off because
this also has a shoe business. So now these running
shoes either first copies or if you go to Eighten.
There are a lot of Kenyan runners and many of
them are sponsored. So these big shoe companies give them
many pairs. They may not need so many pairs, so
they give it to Updish at a discounted rate, and
he here with a bit of a margin, sells it.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So if you see his Instagram account, you.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Can get a top shoe which cost twenty thousand for
about six seven thousand.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Five THOUSD.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
So that's a boon for the younger other So that
is update stagger. So yeah, so what happened exactly how
Amen got it, we don't know, but he admits that yes,
some seniors told him to take this because it will
help in improving his performance.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
But he says that I didn't know it was banned,
so he says that I took it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And another interesting thing was when the raid happened, there
was a one page contract between Amen and another athlete
which said that Amen was supposed to give him what
it takes for him to improve, and he would give
a part of his earnings to Amen. So that is
a key thing because that is what the authorities say
that he was transporting slash distributing this, but Aman says
that there was an agreement, but I never supplied, So
(09:37):
that is a situation me.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
As Nihal pointed out, you know, there's this guy called
Abdis Shnagel who's a very fascinating character in this whole
scenario where the Kenyan authorities believe, or at least they've.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Named him as Aman's coach.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
He himself claims that he took some package and maybe
gave it to Aman, And if you look at his
Instagram right now, he seems to be in in Kenya
right now.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
So while Aman is.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Currently behind bars, this guy seems to be in Kenya
like filming videos telling.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
The world that you know, this is how Kenyan runners
train all of those things. So it's a very fascinating thing.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
And one of the things that stood out, you know,
in the piece that you guys wrote, was that maybe
the Kenyans wanted to set an example, but not necessarily
with one of their own. They wanted to set an
example with somebody who was I mean, you know, one
of those collateral damage, Like, is that the sense you
kind of got when you talk to Aman, when you
(10:35):
talk to maybe.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
A dish Hie. Yeah. First of all, you're right about
updish is if we were to just go buy his Instagram,
he lives quite a life. He portrays himself as his
influencer and he rooms around the world. He's put his
videos from Russia, from Kanya, from Delhi. He's proper influencer life.
The other thing, I mean, it's tough for us to
(10:57):
say exactly what is happening because I mean, I don't
think anyone we've spoken to us denying that Aman was
either consuming these substances or you know, he was in
position of that I think common when he spoke to
Nihal from the jail, that's also interesting story I think
which Neil should narrate his conversations with Aman. But Aman
(11:18):
did deny the fact that he was distributing the drugs.
But when I spoke to Amand's brother, who is in Mumbai,
who's chasing this whole Bollywood dream of his season, aspiring
actor Aman's brother, Ahmit says that you know, many conventions
he's had with his younger brother. He said that, you know,
everyone takes performance and licen drugs here and no one
(11:39):
gets punished, but I have been. And they say that
it's to set an example, because there were plenty of
instances that led to amos sentencing. Right. So, first of all,
it was the World Antidoping Agency which had called out
Kenya for being non compliant with the Antidoping Code and
asked them to get their act in order. And then
(12:01):
there were these string of dope cases which had tarnished
Kria's image as a running hub. Since twenty seventeen, nearly
one fifty Kerrian athletes, most of them long distance fellers,
have been sanctioned for drug creator offenses. Now, I think
what happened is Amon got caught at a time when
the pressure on Kria was building to act. And what
(12:22):
Aman and his brother, and I think also his lawyer
over there, say that, you know, they wanted to make
an example out of Ammon, give him a prison sentence
so that since it will become an international case, they
can show to the world that they're acting on this issue.
And that's what seems to have happened, right, now.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Neel obviously wanted to understand from you, how does somebody
reach out to an inmate in basically a Kenyan jail
And what are the kind of things that maybe you
know you could not fit into the story because obviously
if you have word constraints in a newspaper, But are
there other things that you found maybe that stood out,
maybe you found fascinating.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
From Aman's version of events.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yarman, like the court papers indicates that he's part of
the syndicate with supplies drugs. Now, I don't want to
make a judgment sitting here, but I feel that he
wasn't a part of a white network.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I would be very surprised if he was part of.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
A white network or if he was the one who
was supplying drugs to a lot of Kenyan athletes. When
I said drugs, I mean performing enhancing substances. Maybe at
this stage, I don't think I'll be very surprised if
there's a network from India which is going there and
supplying drugs. I feel is a very small fright. I mean,
I could be wrong, because Kenya has has over the years.
Now their reputation has taken a hit because of so
(13:37):
many doping cases that it can't be this oneman who
went there in twenty twenty three, who has supplied all
these drugs, or is he part of the international syndicate
or a doping ring with supplies drug I doubt.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I think he was there.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
He was trying to get an edge and win some medals,
win an international medal somewhere at one of the lower meats,
and then you know, it opens doors again.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It helps.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
And maybe he had the intention and he was planning
to supply to the other athlete, or maybe he did.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
We don't know.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But it's not on a large scale I'll be very
surprised it was on a large scale basis. But yeah,
the rules are rules, and yeah, so that's what it
is now. If you have a rule in a country
and you break it, unfortunately, there are consequences. But amand
Yah frankly is a little desperate to get out of
there because you know, a Kenyan jail, there are a
language issue, there is a full issue. I mean he's
(14:24):
from Sony pat so he's not going to eat. I mean,
Hugai is not his Dishe is just comfort food for him.
And life is a bit tough, I mean tough in
the sense that you are with thirteen mates, it in
about four small rooms, and then you have to do
sort of work during the day. He works at a
hospital there and flies and away from home. His mother
is all alone at home. He feels homesick, of course.
(14:47):
And I don't think he ever thought he'll get into
even if he thought he may get caught. He just
thought that it could be like it is in India
where you get banned. He didn't think he would land
up in a Kenyan jail. In there when he went
to he claims he was wanted to win a medal
for India. Yeah, so he's a little frustrated, little sad,
little disappointed, little upset, as you can expect any young
(15:07):
boy who's in a foreign jail.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
So he's reaching out to people.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
He's hoping that the Indian High Commission in Kenya, or
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or someone is.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Able to help him.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
That He says that I'm ready to come to India
and face anything if you want to put me in
jail in India, put me bad me.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
But at the moment it seems that he will be
there for a while at least.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
And Neil just to follow upon that, are there any
provisions that he can a will to get back to
India now that he's been jailed there.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Yeah, So the lawyer who represented Probodo said that he
would reach out to the High Commission there and we
reached out of the Foreign Ministry also, which Mehi will say.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
What they said. But the other option that's the lawyer
gave us.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
There's a power of Mercy committee there, so you can
recommend and if they feel it's a genuine case, they
can recommend it to the Kenyam President and the Kendyam
President could pardon you. But it's not very clear if
that is applicable to a foreigner or not. But that
is what the lawyer wants to do. So the lawyer,
I think what I've got in touch with them and
yesterday or today again to see what can be done
to help him. But the thing in this case is
(16:12):
no three years is the minimum punishment. So if they've
given him four years, they could have appealed in the
local courts for three When the court gives a minimum
punishment of three years, who will reduce it? I mean,
so maybe through the power of mercy committee may be
able to come back door.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Know, they's all just hope for back at the moment, and.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was with
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs we reached out to.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Yeah, so we spoke to the Ministry of External Affairs
and they said that you know, they've been in touch
with them. And ever since the case came to light,
he sought consular access and people from the High Commission
in Nairobi went and met him. They checked on his health,
they found him to be in a healthy state, and
once he was sentenced, the High Commission also requested the
(16:56):
Kenaian authorities that whatever best facilities were possible as for
the Indian laws, they be extended to amen. But where
there could be a hiccup for in the coming days
as he seeks repatriation is that the sentencing is very
clear that he can be sent back to India after
serving his three years, and there is no agreement or
(17:19):
understanding between India and Canye. There is no bilateral understanding
where an offender in Kenya can be sent back to
India where he can serve out his sentencing. So since
there is an absence of any such agreement, the chances
look tough. For Aman to come back and serve the
remainder of his prison sentence in India as he hopes.
(17:40):
But at the same time, the AMEE officials have said
that whatever happens in the future going forward, if the
family reaches out to them more, if the lawyer reaches
out to them, they'll see what steps can be taken.
Just one last thing I wanted to understand.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
We've spoken a lot about the hit that Kenya's image
has kind of taken over the last couple of yours.
You mentioned that, you know, there were at least one
fifty Kenyans who been sanctioned since twenty seventeen, things like that,
But has India's image also taken a hit considering you know,
India always is a country that is now usually very
(18:14):
high in the doping offenses list. Every time WADA puts
out an annual list, India is I think usually around
top three, top five types. So this case, in particular,
with the Kenyans pointing finger to an Indian as they
like to call it, a supplier in a sense or
part of an organized ring, will that also kind of
have other ripple effects for Indians as a whole.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
In track and field it's interesting, right, the whole thing,
and it kind of also points at how the whole
system works. Again, like Nil said, we don't know if
Amon was a part of a syndicate, as the Kenaian
quote has hinted or mentioned in the order. We don't
know for sure what happened there, but it gives a
very interesting insight into how this whole performance. And then
(19:01):
saying drug's network works, I mean Kenya and India two
countries which are really suffering from this whole menace. Kenya
we've mentioned, India has been the one of the highest.
It's been, in fact, the top two or top three
doper fender countries in the last five years six years
across sports, especially in athletics. And if you recall a
(19:22):
myth when the Indian delegation that is pitching for the
twenty thirty six Olympics went to meet the International Olympic
Committee earlier this year, they were told very categorically by
the IUC that you know, you should first fix your
doping problem. So India does have this big doping menace,
and there are so many wals within wheels in this
and how the entire say, for example, of the Shnagar again, like,
(19:45):
we don't know what the truths are about this case,
but when Nial met him, when Nil spoke to the
fact that he's getting medication from Russia and selling it
for cheap in India, that is a red flag, I think.
And who knows how many such players are the in
the market and providing drugs for cheap two Indian athletes
who want to have that slight advantage over those so
(20:07):
that they can win races and get jobs or get
cash prizes or whatever there is on or four. So
it is a sophisticated network. Just that where Amon fits
in this whole network is something we haven't been able
to understand yet. I think, what do you think? Yeah,
I agree with you. We can only take a face
value what they tell us.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
But like I said, like yeah, Am admitted that he
had the drug with him prohibit substances and that he
was told that this will help him.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
So yeah, we'll have to. I don't know what to
make out of it.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I mean, it could be part of a supply chain
where they take drugs then ask these young athletes there
to use it or to distribute it further.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
It could be I'm not saying I'm as part of it.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
It could be that, you know, because everybody's hungry for success,
or it could be just one chap trying his best
to get an edge getting caught.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Right, Neil Meir, thank you so much for taking the
time out and discussing this way fascinating case. I think
it's one of the most interesting cases that we've heard
and with like real life ramifications for somebody who's in
the thicket of it. As you said, we don't know
all the answers, but hopefully in the coming weeks months,
we will be able to unravel what has happened, who
(21:23):
is at the center of it maybe, or what is
as Mio said, where does amun fit into all of this?
Easy just like a casual bystander who wanted to get
an edge, or easy actually part of a very sophisticated
doping syndicate. But well, that's all the time we have
for this week's Game Time episode. Thank you, thank you
Nehal once again, and thank you for listening. We'll be
(21:45):
back next week with another episode where we take a
deep dive into something that everybody should care about.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
You were listening to Express Sports by the Indian Express.
This week's show was edited and mixed by Stay and
produced by Meshahang Bargev. If you like the show, then
do subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. You
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(22:18):
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