By Bradley Shahenza
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has held off imposing sanctions on the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) after acknowledging what it described as “significant and demonstrable progress” in addressing critical compliance gaps.
In a statement released on Friday, October 3, WADA confirmed that ADAK had submitted a corrective action plan ahead of the October 2 deadline, following a formal non-compliance notice issued on September 11. The notice stemmed from unresolved issues flagged during a May 2024 audit.
WADA said the plan outlined measures to resolve the shortcomings within four months, prompting the agency to refer the case back to its Compliance Review Committee (CRC) for further evaluation. “This has led WADA Management to refer the matter back to the CRC for further consideration. Therefore, until such time as the CRC reassesses the case and potentially makes a further recommendation to the ExCo, and the ExCo reaches a subsequent decision, the aforementioned consequences for ADAK will not apply,” WADA’s update read.
The development means Kenya will, for now, avoid the severe consequences of a non-compliance designation. If declared non-compliant, ADAK and Kenyan sport could have faced penalties including the loss of WADA funding, exclusion from vital global programs, and ineligibility for Kenyan representatives to sit on WADA boards and committees.
Kenya, a dominant force in global athletics, has long faced scrutiny over doping-related challenges. The latest reprieve provides ADAK with critical breathing space to strengthen its structures and reassure the international sporting community of its commitment to clean sport.
Observers note that while WADA’s decision buys time, ADAK must fully implement its action plan to avoid future sanctions that could threaten Kenya’s athletes and reputation on the global stage.
