ADAK: We risk being punished by WADA

Kenya risks being declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to under funding by the National Treasury to the Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) that has led to their operations being crippled.

This is after the Government cut the Kenya Adak budget from Kshs 288m to kshs 20m during the 2024/25 financial year.

Speaking to Athletics News, the ADAK CEO Sarah Shibutse said that they will soon be punished for being non-compliant if the funds are not released on time.

“Failure by ADAK to effectively discharge its mandate will attract the wrath of the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) which will declare Kenya non-compliant,” said Shibutse.

The agency which had been funded by the government for the last two years might shut down the doors as they can even operate and pay their rent and even a simple thing as internet.

“The landlord has given us a notice because we have not paid rent since July 2024. Internet has been disconnected. We are in a dire situation,” she added.

Last month the former chairman Amb. Daniel Makdwallo called the media and where he raised the eye brows when he revealed the shocker that the critical institution had its budget cut.

“We are at risk of not being able to host or send any of our sportsmen for international competitions, because the Agency cannot carry out its regular testing activities both in competition and out of competition, no legal prosecution can go on for those athletes who have violated anti-doping policies and no anti-doping education can go on,” said Amb Makdwallo.

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The former chairman had appealed to the Government to reinstate the budget to ensure a smooth running of the activities, such as testing which is quite exorbitant where a test costs about 600-700 euros per athlete. 

Two years ago Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Head of Testing Thomas Capdevielle, while visiting the country had an agreement with Adak of testing over 5,000 athletes after the government made a pledge to fund the programme.

“We are aiming at up to 5,000 tests in the coming year, combining ADAK and AIU testing programmes. This will be the new norm for Kenyan athletes – intensified, targeted and regular testing, both in and out of competition.

“We all know there is a major doping problem in Kenya and the Government has committed to stamping it out. The AIU is working closely with ADAK, Athletics Kenya (AK) and other Kenyan authorities to implement a strong testing programme to catch cheaters and deter other athletes from doing likewise,” said Capdevielle.

The Government pledged funding of US$5 million annually for the next five years (totaling US$25 million). The fund was to be used for building capacity in testing, investigations, intelligence, education, case management and communications.

Kenya was placed on WADA’s compliance watch list in 2016 when it was described by World Athletics as one of its “member federations majorly at risk of doping.”

A WADA report found Kenyan athletes’ knowledge of banned substances to be as follows: 42% reported a low level of knowledge, 26% reported a medium level of knowledge and 30% reported a high level of knowledge.