The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced plans to place Kenya’s Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK) on a watchlist following concerns over non-compliance with international standards.
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli disclosed this development during a media briefing, noting that the move follows a declaration of non-compliance last month after ADAK failed to meet critical requirements identified in an audit conducted in May 2023.
“By going onto the watch list from non-compliance, we’re going to make sure that everything gets implemented,” Niggli said. “We’ll be observing closely for about six months to ensure the promises and investments made are fulfilled.”
He added that while significant progress cannot be expected immediately, Kenya still faces potential risks of future sanctions if compliance measures are not fully implemented.
“Challenges such as whereabouts and tracking athletes will remain because sometimes there’s no proper address to locate them,” Niggli explained. “But we’ll do as much as we can.”
He also pointed out that the high financial rewards in athletics have created strong temptations among some athletes to engage in doping.
“We have to be realistic about the temptation for athletes in Kenya, who by reaching the world level can make money that secures their families for life. The temptation is very high, so we must remain vigilant,” he said.
Despite the warning, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) noted that Kenya had shown signs of improvement over the past year, particularly in monitoring and testing efforts.
The watchlist placement will allow WADA to monitor ADAK’s activities closely for six months to determine whether Kenya can fully return to compliance.
