Kenya Olympics Athletic team Manager Michael Rotich at a Milimani court where he is facing doping allegations, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
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They believe Rotich could interfere with the investigation if free.
The Sunday Times newspaper and German television channel ARD filmed Rotich allegedly demanding 10,000 pounds ($13,000, 11,800 euros) for agreeing to give a warning when doping tests would be carried out.
He is also alleged to have promised to alert them 12 hours before a dope test in return for cash.
Michael Rotich was ordered to return home from the Olympics in Brazil after he was caught in a sting by reporters from Britain’s The Sunday Times newspaper.
“The investigators are pursuing leads from the Sunday Times newspaper”, the police said in an affidavit.
Rotich becomes the third athletics official to be charged under the new Kenyan anti-doping laws which came into force in June, and several Kenyan athletes have failed dope tests in recent months.
The investigation into Rotich, the official who was in charge of Kenya’s star-studded Olympic track team, would take time and involve investigators travelling to a number of towns in the west of the country to contact possible witnesses and record statements, prosecutor Duncan Ondimu said on Tuesday. Rotich had made a request to be released on bail, but this was turned down.
In issuing the order Wednesday, magistrate Christine Njagi called doping a serious offense needed to be investigated. In all, Kenyan athletes have been involved in more than 40 doping cases in the past four years.
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Kenya was only removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) list of “non-compliant” countries on Friday, the day the Rio Games opened.
