WADA commends Kenya for progress in Anti-doping reforms after watch-list audit

Kenya has received renewed backing in its anti-doping campaign after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commended the country for progress made following the 2024/25 compliance audit that had placed it on a watch list.

The commendation was delivered on Wednesday when Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya hosted a high-level WADA delegation led by Africa Director Rodney Swigelaar at Talanta Plaza in Nairobi.

WADA acknowledged that Kenya has made significant and demonstrable progress after a 2024 audit flagged serious gaps in legislation, governance, testing capacity and operational independence at the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).

The findings had earlier exposed Kenya to the risk of being declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. Such a decision would have resulted in the loss of WADA privileges, withdrawal of funding, exclusion from WADA programmes and restrictions on hosting or participating in sanctioned international events.

Kenya responded by submitting a detailed corrective action plan within the stipulated timelines. WADA reviewed the plan and acknowledged visible reforms.

The agency subsequently spared Kenya from immediate sanctions and placed the country under enhanced monitoring through a watch-list mechanism.

Swigelaar praised the government’s political goodwill and financial backing of ADAK, saying sustained support was critical to restoring confidence in Kenya’s anti-doping framework.

“For us as WADA, the success of Kenya’s anti-doping programme should match its success on the sporting field and athletics track around the world, and we are very happy with the commitment from the government and other stakeholders to ensure the programme is in line with the World Anti-Doping Code,” Swigelaar said.

Mvurya reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to full compliance. He said the government was reviewing legislation to ensure alignment with the World Anti-Doping Code.

“I have welcomed WADA’s commendation of Kenya’s progress in implementing the agreed corrective action plans and reviewing legislation to ensure full alignment with the World Anti-Doping Code,” Mvurya said.

The CS underscored ADAK’s commitment to sustaining the reforms. He revealed that the government will expand the Anti-Doping Programme to Other Sports Disciplines beyond athletics.

Additional Exchequer resources have already been identified, and the funding will strengthen governance, intelligence, investigations and risk-based testing across multiple sports.

Kenya is also implementing targeted reforms, which include agile policy adjustments to meet revised compliance requirements. Education and sensitisation programmes have been scaled up to entrench a culture of clean sport. Funding has been ring-fenced. Governance and staffing structures have been streamlined to improve accountability.

The reforms are aimed at ensuring Kenya’s global sporting success is matched by a credible, transparent and compliant anti-doping system.