Kenya’s anti-doping efforts have received a lifeline after the government reinstated full funding to the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), effectively ending a months-long standoff that had threatened to derail the country’s compliance with international sporting standards.
The restored allocation of KES 185 million for the 2024/2025 financial year follows an earlier budget slash to KES 20 million. It had slowed ADAK’s core operations. The funding crisis had placed Kenya at risk of sanctions from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This included a potential bans from global competitions and reputational damage on the international stage.
“This reinstatement is not just financial support — it’s a strong signal that Kenya remains firmly committed to clean sport,” ADAK said, thanking President William Ruto, Parliament, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and the National Treasury for their intervention.
Crisis Averted for Kenya’s Sporting Future
The budget cut had prompted WADA to issue corrective actions after a May 2024 audit. This raised fears that Kenya could fall out of compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code. ADAK warned that failure to resolve the matter could have led to disqualification of athletes. Kenyan athletes could have been banned from international events such as the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
With the restored funding, ADAK can now carry out its strategic anti-doping programs. This include testing, education, research, and intelligence gathering — averting a looming crisis that would have impacted thousands of Kenyan athletes.
Even during the funding shortfall, ADAK managed to conduct 4,161 tests in the 2023/2024 financial yea. It — exceeded its target of 3,500. It has vowed to maintain momentum in the current financial year, with a focus on high-risk regions and out-of-competition testing.
ADAK is scaling up education and awareness programs, particularly in schools and training camps, and working with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to integrate anti-doping content into the national syllabus. A network of Anti-Doping ambassadors is also being established across the country.
On the enforcement front, ADAK has enhanced its capacity for investigations and intelligence, working closely with law enforcement agencies to dismantle doping cartels.
The agency also condemned the proposed “Enhanced Games”, warning that any event normalizing drug use in sport threatens athlete health and decades of progress.
“We call on all athletes, coaches, federations, and citizens to stand for integrity,” said Peninah Wahome, ADAK Acting CEO.
