20 athletes at risk as ADAK flags missed doping tests for Tokyo trials

By , June 4, 2025

Kenya’s anti-doping efforts have intensified ahead of the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships, with 125 athletes successfully completing the first round of mandatory testing required by World Athletics before the national trials scheduled for July 11-12, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium.

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) confirmed that 20 athletes on the list submitted by Athletics Kenya failed to meet the May 24, 2025, deadline for phase one of the three-round testing protocol.

Their absence puts their World Championships hopes in serious jeopardy.

ADAK officials say some athletes remain untraceable and have missed key Athletics Kenya weekend meets, with several reportedly based outside the country.

“We were presented with a list of 145 athletes by Athletics Kenya to conduct the test ahead of the World Championships. So far, 20 have not undergone the first-round testing despite all the efforts we have marshalled to track them. We know nothing about their whereabouts, and they have not been present at the Weekend AK Meets. It seems some of them are not interested in the World Championships, and many of them are also based outside the country,” ADAK’s Head of Education and Research, Martin Yauma, said.

The second phase of testing is currently underway, with the final round set to take place after the national trials.

ADAK acting CEO Peninah Wahome made it clear during a press briefing in Nairobi that only athletes who pass all required testing will be cleared to represent Kenya in Tokyo.

“Only clean athletes will head to Tokyo to represent Kenya at the Worlds,” Wahome declared.

ADAK has also reported encouraging progress in its broader anti-doping campaign.

According to Head of Legal, Bildad Rogoncho, the number of new doping cases has dropped significantly.

“In the current calendar year, we have only recorded 14 new cases, 10 for prohibited substances and four related to whereabouts failures. The numbers have gone down compared to previous seasons,” he said.

In a major development, ADAK’s operations have been boosted by a significant increase in government funding.

After enduring a tough financial year with a reduced budget of just Ksh20 million, the agency has now secured a revitalised allocation of Sh185 million.

“It is gratifying to note that following sustained advocacy, lobbying, and inter-agency collaboration, the budget has been enhanced, revitalising ADAK’s testing, education, and intelligence functions,” Wahome said.

She expressed appreciation to President William Ruto for his leadership and thanked the Ministry of Sports, the National Treasury, and the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture for championing ADAK’s cause.

“Currently, we are diligently working around the clock to fully address the Corrective Actions and other mandatory requirements in a bid to maintain full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code. It is our hope that the coming 2025/2026 season will see even increased funding for the programme so as to exude more confidence nationally and across international sporting platforms on Kenya’s commitment to presenting clean athletes,” Wahome noted.

ADAK reaffirmed its commitment to clean competition by strengthening its operations under four pillars: education and awareness, increased testing capacity, sanctioning and prosecutions, and intelligence gathering and investigations.

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