CS Mvurya confident Kenya will avert WADA ban

CS Salim Mvurya (C) with PS Elijah Mwangi (L), AK's Barnaba Korir and Peninah Wahome/ HANDOUT

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya is confident Kenya will avert a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ban on non-compliance grounds.

On September 11, WADA declared the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) non-compliant with its code following a damning audit conducted in May 2024.

The ruling cast a long shadow over Kenya’s sporting future, threatening to cripple competition and jeopardising the country’s chances of hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and, possibly, the 2029 World Championships.

Kenya has bid to host the 2029 edition of the global athletics show alongside India, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, South Korea and Ethiopia. 

WADA gave Kenya a 21-day ultimatum to put its house in order, with the deadline expiring on Friday (yesterday).

“The report from WADA presented 35 issues, with the global body giving Kenya 21 days to comply,” Mvurya said.

The CS, however, was cautious, revealing that ADAK has been working around the clock to address the concerns in close collaboration with his ministry, WADA, and international partners.

“Between that period and now, ADAK has been working hand in hand with my office and WADA with the support of other international partners,” said Mvurya.

They have addressed 30 of the issues raised.

“I am happy to report that 30 of the issues raised have already been resolved and dropped,” Mvurya stated.

The remaining five have been addressed in a corrective action plan, which has since been submitted to WADA for consideration.

“For the five issues remaining, ADAK has made a very formidable corrective action plan which has already been submitted to WADA,” he added.

Mvurya says the country is on the right track.

“I can confidently now say that Kenya is on the right track to compliance,” he affirmed. “Part of what we have decided as government is to match our profile in winning and raise the profile of ADAK to be at par with our sporting excellence.”

This calls for reforms, though.

“We shall embark on key reforms that will focus on strengthening ADAK’s technical ability to discharge its mandate effectively,” said Mvurya.

“Part of those reforms will also look at the policy and legal environment, as well as measures to ensure the body is adequately funded.”

The latest assurance comes a day after President William Ruto, while hosting Kenya’s World Championships team, directed the CS to spearhead a comprehensive reorganisation of ADAK.

“My instructions to the CS is that we reorganise ADAK properly, inject professionalism, and make sure you work with best practice and international standards so that we safeguard the integrity of sports in Kenya,” Ruto said.

He underscored the importance of protecting Kenya’s clean sporting image.

“Kenya is a great sporting nation, and we do not want our sportsmen and women to be adulterated in any manner, for whatever reason, by anybody,” he warned.