Athletics Kenya Sets Deadline for Mandatory Doping Tests

Athletics Kenya President, Ltd Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, has warned athletes who have not undergone at least one non-notice out-of-competition test by May 25 that will be ineligible to compete at the forthcoming World Athletics Championships, slated for September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan.

Speaking at Riadha House in Nairobi, Tuwei emphasized that the 10-month testing program, which began on October 29, 2024, is still ongoing and that the final deadline for testing is August 29, 2025, at 7pm East Africa Time (EAT).

Tuwei, urged athletes to update their whereabouts and provide accurate information to ensure they do not miss any tests before the biennial event. He further stressed that athletes must avail themselves for mandatory training sessions conducted by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to familiarize themselves with compliance requirements and avoid any challenges.

“Whereabouts compliance is a must for all athletes. Those with ADAMS accounts must submit their whereabouts through the system and regularly check for updates. Athletes without an ADAMS account can request one and will be included in the next education seminar. Alternatively, they can submit their whereabouts using the provided Google Forms link but must update their information whenever they change their location. It is crucial that anytime an athlete changes location, they inform the whereabouts system through ADAMS,” Tuwei, who also serves as World Athletics Vice President, emphasized.

He warned that athletes are subject to both in-competition and out-of-competition testing at any time. Missing a test or failing to comply with testing authorities and sample collection procedures will affect their eligibility. Tuwei also reminded athletes that they are responsible for any substance found in their system and urged them to check medications and supplements before use to avoid unintentional violations.

The event was also graced by Dr. Martin Yauma, the Principal Research and Development Officer at the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), who noted that approximately 20 probable athletes currently training outside the country are being monitored.

“We have established contacts with them and are making every effort to reach them through anti-doping education. We are organizing online sessions for them and mapping their testing schedules to ensure that those selected by Athletics Kenya undergo the required tests for eligibility,” said Yauma.

Kenya has about 440 active athletes abroad, and Athletics Kenya is conducting a performance monitoring exercise. Where a statistician is flagging results from competitions that approach Tokyo qualification standards to ensure no probable athlete is overlooked.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has ranked Kenya and Ethiopia in Category A due to the high number of doping cases. As a result, all athletes must be cleared before competing in global events.