Kenya risks facing the wrath of the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) due to the financial crisis currently facing the Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, ADAK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sarah Shibutse painted a grim picture of the firm.

Shibutse informed the committee that the agency is in the red due to huge budget cuts by the National Treasury.

“Operations by ADAK have been crippled due to underfunding by the National Treasury,” Shibutse told a committee meeting chaired by Naomi Waqo (Marsabit County MP).

Landlord’s notice

According to the CEO’s report, the anti-doping agency risks being kicked out due to unpaid rent from July this year. Besides failing to pay rent, Shibutse added that ADAK does not have active internet, all due to budget cuts.

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

She further told the committee that the agency has been struggling to pay staff their salaries, noting that the situation was getting out of hand.

According to the CEO, the agency’s funding through the National Treasury has been reduced to only Ksh20 million.

“The net effect of this budget cut is to cripple the agency,” she stated.

Ramifications

While pleading with the MPs to help escalate the matter, Shibutse made it clear that ADAK is currently struggling to fulfill its mandate, which includes testing of athletes taking part in various competitions.

Shibutse maintained that the failure to meet the set standards would have grave ramifications, as WADA would easily declare the country non-compliant.

It is mandated to conduct doping tests of Kenyan rugby and volleyball players set to take part in upcoming international competitions, but lack of funds will hinder the process.

The CEO told the Committee that ADAK requires more than Ksh50,000 to conduct a doping test of a single player.

“The ramifications of a declaration of non-compliance by WADA mean that no Kenyan athlete will be eligible to participate in any international competitions,” she told the MPs, indicating that it could affect CHAN 2025 preparations.

“Taking cognizance of the potential pitfalls that may occur, the Agency is therefore pleading with the Committee to intervene and urge the National Treasury to reconsider this funding gap and reinstate the budget for the Agency in order to protect Kenyan athletes and other players and the country at large from facing sanctions,” she added.

MPs vow to intervene

Moved by the story, MPs sitting in the committee vowed to intervene to save the country from sanctions due to non-compliance.

The Committee said it will seek mechanisms of having the Sports Fund disburse money to the agency to give them a lifeline.

“The Committee has noted with concern grave matters raised by the CEO. We will seek ways of having the Sports Fund support the agency financially,” Waqo assured the CEO.