By KPC Sports Reporter
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has praised Kenya for significant progress in implementing corrective actions following the 2024/2025 audit that had previously placed the country on a compliance watchlist.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya on Wednesday received a high-level WADA delegation led by Africa Director Rodney Swigelaar at Talanta Plaza, Nairobi, where the agency acknowledged the government’s commitment to strengthening the national anti-doping framework.
Swigelaar lauded the continued government support to the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), describing it as a critical pillar in ensuring the country’s full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.
CS Mvurya reaffirmed Kenya’s resolve to fully align with WADA recommendations, noting that ongoing reforms are aimed at building a stronger, sustainable, transparent, and integrity-driven anti-doping system in line with global best practice.
“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.
He further underscored ADAK’s commitment to sustaining the reform momentum, with a focus on enhancing institutional credibility, compliance, and accountability.
The CS also revealed that the government is expanding the Anti-Doping Programme to Other Sports Disciplines (OSD) beyond athletics to ensure equity, integrity, and comprehensive protection of clean sport across all sporting codes.
He noted that additional Exchequer resources have been earmarked to strengthen governance, intelligence gathering, investigations, and risk-based testing capacity.
Kenya has also implemented targeted reforms, including adopting agile policies to accommodate revised compliance requirements, scaling up education and sensitization to entrench a culture of compliance, ring-fencing funding, and streamlining governance and staffing structures.
“For us as WADA, Kenya’s success in its anti-doping programme should match its success on the sporting field and the athletics track globally. We are very encouraged by the level of commitment shown by the Government of Kenya and other stakeholders to ensure the programme aligns fully with the Anti-Doping Code,” Swigelaar said.
