Why it matters
Kenya is taking no chances ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. After years under international scrutiny for widespread doping violations, the country’s anti-doping agency has barred 20 athletes from national trials due to noncompliance with mandatory drug testing protocols.
What’s happening
The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) announced that 20 athletes will not be allowed to compete at next month’s World Championship trials after failing to undergo their first round of no-notice out-of-competition testing before the May 24 deadline.
- The testing requirement stems from World Athletics’ Rule 15, which mandates that all athletes from Category A countries, including Kenya, must complete three such tests within the 10 months leading up to a global championship.
- Of the 145 athletes submitted by Athletics Kenya (AK) for testing, only 125 completed the first phase by the deadline.
- ADAK officials said the 20 absent athletes either failed to provide accurate whereabouts or were entirely untraceable, some believed to be training outside the country.
“We know nothing about their whereabouts. It seems some of them are not interested in the World Championships,” said ADAK’s head of education and research, Dr. Martin Yauma.
The national trials, scheduled for July 11–12 at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, will help determine the Team Kenya for the Tokyo championships, taking place from September 13 to 21.
Behind the testing push
The stricter stance is part of Kenya’s effort to restore international credibility and meet global anti-doping compliance:
- Rule 15 Compliance: Introduced by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in 2019, Rule 15 applies to high-risk countries. Athletes must undergo three no-notice drug tests (urine and blood) before they can be cleared for competition.
- International scrutiny: Kenya has been under close watch by both the AIU and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016, when over 40 Kenyan athletes were banned for doping violations within four years.
- WADA Partnership: In 2022, Kenya signed a $25 million agreement with WADA to strengthen its anti-doping infrastructure and education programs, aiming to avoid collective sanctions like blanket bans seen in Russia.
A bigger budget, a tougher ADAK
After operating on just Ksh20 million during the 2023/24 fiscal year, ADAK’s funding has increased nearly tenfold to Ksh185 million (~USD 1.38 million) for the 2024/25 fiscal year.
- The agency conducted 4,161 tests last year, surpassing its target of 3,500 tests, and plans to exceed that number again this year.
- According to Bildad Rogoncho, Head of Legal Services at ADAK, Kenya has seen only 14 new doping violations so far in 2025, a significant decrease from prior years.
“Only clean athletes will head to Tokyo,” ADAK Acting CEO Peninah Wahome emphasized during a press briefing in Nairobi.
The bigger picture
Kenya’s move to bar athletes before trials—rather than after positive tests—signals a cultural shift in how the nation manages anti-doping compliance. Historically, Kenya has faced reputational damage from post-race bans and medal forfeitures. Now, the country is preemptively enforcing rules in line with AIU standards.
This may also be a response to warnings from WADA and the AIU. In 2023, WADA president Witold Bańka warned that failure to show substantial progress would result in harsher sanctions, including possible exclusion from international events.
What’s next
- The second phase of testing is currently underway, with the final round scheduled after the July trials.
- ADAK is working with Athletics Kenya to finalize the list of eligible athletes for Tokyo.
- Only athletes who complete all three out-of-competition tests will be allowed to compete at the World Championships.
“We are on course,” said Yauma. “We have fulfilled our mandate.”
