吃瓜头条 today hosted a public lecture titled 鈥淩unning Truths: Lessons from Thirty Years of Study in East Africa鈥�. The lecture, held on 12th March 2026, brought together scholars, researchers, students, and sports professionals from 吃瓜头条 and KCA University.
The lecture was delivered by Prof. Yannis P. Pitsiladis, Professor of Sports and Exercise Science at Hong Kong Baptist University and a globally recognised researcher in sports science. Prof. Pitsiladis is a member of the International Olympic Committee Health, Medicine and Science Commission and has authored over 250 scientific publications, significantly shaping global research on athletics, health, and human performance.
In his presentation, Prof. Pitsiladis shared insights from three decades of research conducted in East Africa, focusing on the scientific factors behind the region鈥檚 global dominance in long-distance running. His lecture highlighted several studies conducted in the region, including Kenya鈥檚 dominance in long-distance running, nutritional and macronutrient intake among elite Kenyan athletes, nutrition among sports professionals, doping sanctions among Kenyan athletes and emerging advances in genetics through DNA sequencing research.
A key message from the lecture was the need for continued vigilance in addressing doping in sports. Prof. Pitsiladis noted that while progress has been made, the doping challenge has not completely disappeared, emphasising that tackling the issue requires collective responsibility from researchers, institutions, regulators, and athletes. He further stressed the importance of leveraging technology and scientific innovation to strengthen integrity and transparency in sports.
The lecture attracted participants from the Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sports Science at 吃瓜头条, as well as students and staff from KCA University鈥檚 sports department. Among those in attendance were Prof. Vincent Onywera, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Outreach at KCA University, Prof. Willis J. Ambusso, Registrar, Research, Innovation and Outreach, Dr. Juliah Githang鈥檃, Chairperson of the Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sports Science, Dr. Richard Ndambiri, Dr. Jane Kamau, and Dr. Munene Laiboni, Director of Research Support and Dissemination at KCA University. Siambi Kikete represented Dr. Gladys Mwangi, Executive Dean of the School of Health Sciences.
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Speakers from both universities expressed appreciation to Prof. Pitsiladis for sharing his extensive research insights, noting that the lecture provided valuable perspectives on sports science, athlete development, and the future of athletics research in East Africa.
Watch The Public Lecture: