LONDON (AP) 鈥� hopes the stringent testing regime he underwent before becoming the first person to break the fabled 2-hour barrier in marathon running will prove to the world he is competing clean.
The 29-year-old Kenyan pulled off the that was long considered unthinkable when winning the London Marathon on Sunday in a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
There have been a slew of involving Kenyan runners in recent years, notably women鈥檚 marathon world record-holder getting a three-year ban in October.
So, in agreement with his coaches and management team, Sawe said he volunteered to undergo 鈥渕ultiple鈥� doping tests to dispel any suspicion around his own performances, including victories at last year鈥檚 marathons in Berlin and London.
鈥淒oping has become a cancer in my country,鈥� Sawe told reporters on Monday.
Sawe said he and his team decided to implement the stringent testing regime because the possibility of people looking at his results 鈥渨ith a lot of doubts was not good,鈥� and he wanted to 鈥渟how the world that we can run clean and also run fast.鈥�
The BBC, which holds the broadcast rights for the London Marathon, reported that Adidas provided $50,000 to the Athletics Integrity Unit, track and field鈥檚 anti-doping body, to frequently test Sawe over a 12-month period, including 25 out-of-competition tests leading up to the Berlin Marathon in September and a similar number ahead of the London race.
The Athletics Integrity Unit didn’t immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment on Sawe’s testing regime.
Sawe is urging other runners to volunteer for more doping tests.
鈥淓veryone will feel comfortable running with his fellow athlete because there will be no doubt thinking (that) someone is using what he鈥檚 using,” he said. 鈥淎nd so, it鈥檚 important to run clean and to show the world (that) talent, with hard work, discipline and patience,鈥� can lead to big achievements.
Sawe also credited his footwear for helping him break the marathon record by an astonishing 65 seconds in Sunday鈥檚 race.
He wore an Adidas shoe that weighed less than half the weight of an average running shoe. After the race, he held up the shoe, which had his winning time written next to it.
鈥淭he shoe is very nice, very light, comfortable and so supportive,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd is pushing (me) forward.鈥�
Sawe was already a superstar in marathon running but has suddenly become a global sensation, something the softly spoken Kenyan is going to have to get used to.
鈥淏eing in the history books is not something easy,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o it means a lot to me in my life and I鈥檓 so happy.鈥�
Sawe said he kept things simple after his world-record run.
鈥淚 just celebrated in style 鈥� I just relaxed and slept well and woke up,鈥� he said.
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Douglas reported from Sundsvall, Sweden.
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