Sports Committee Meets ADAK Over Compliance with WADA Requirements

The National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture has received an update on Kenya’s compliance with global anti-doping standards from the Anti-Doping Authority of Kenya (ADAK).

The session, chaired by Turkana North MP Paul Ekwom Nabuin, focused on measures being taken to curb rising doping cases among Kenyan athletes.

ADAK Chief Executive Officer Peninah Wahome told the committee that the agency has intensified both in-competition and out-of-competition testing, with a particular focus on high-risk athletes and disciplines.

She noted that ADAK has expanded the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and strengthened the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programme to better detect doping patterns over time.

Despite Kenya’s removal from the compliance watchlist of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Wahome cautioned that the risk of doping remains high. She attributed this to financial incentives among elite and upcoming athletes, as well as a prevailing culture of silence that enables doping networks to thrive.

The committee also sought clarification on ADAK’s collaboration with international bodies such as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and WADA.

In response, Wahome said ADAK is working closely with both organizations to enhance coordinated testing efforts. These include increased inclusion of Kenyan athletes in international testing pools, joint test distribution planning, and expanded use of the ABP to monitor long-term physiological indicators.

“These measures ensure continuous and intelligence-led monitoring of athletes both locally and internationally,” she said.

On the establishment of a national anti-doping laboratory, Wahome highlighted the high cost of sample analysis and shipment as a major challenge. She confirmed that Kenya currently relies on foreign laboratories, as the country does not yet have a WADA-accredited testing facility.