WADA Declares Kenya Non-Compliant with Anti-Doping Code
World Anti-Doping Agency warns Kenya of sanctions after finding critical audit failures in its anti-doping agency, with consequences set to begin after the Tokyo World Championships.
WADA declares Kenya non-compliant with anti-doping code
On the eve of the Tokyo World Championships, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that the Athletics Kenya Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK) has failed to address key requirements from a May 2022 audit. Unless ADAK resolves these issues within 21 days of formal notice, WADA will impose sanctions from October 2, after the championships conclude.
Potential sanctions include suspending ADAK's funding, participation in WADA programs, and removing Kenyan representation from WADA boards and committees. Kenya would also be banned from hosting regional, continental, or global athletics events during non-compliance.
Athletics Kenya had aimed to host the 2023 World Championships, ultimately winning the 2029 or 2031 bid. The doping crisis has deepened in recent years: the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) banned 19 Kenyan athletes in 2025, and six, including marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, face provisional suspensions this year.
Fastest man this year, marathoner Sabastian Sawe, described doping as "a cancer for Kenyan athletes" while outlining his own rigorous testing regime with the AIU.
Ethiopian Athlete Suspended
Meanwhile, Ethiopian middle-distance runner Diribe Welteji will miss the Tokyo World Championships after the Court of Arbitration for Sport provisionally suspended her. Cleared by the Ethiopian Anti-Doping Authority of refusing to provide a sample in August, Welteji's case was appealed by the AIU. CAS will suspend her until the arbitration process concludes, barring her from the women's 1500m heats at Tokyo's National Stadium.
WADA's move underscores growing concern over doping in East African athletics and signals possible global sanctions if reforms in Kenya are not swiftly implemented.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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