ADAK budget reinstated to help clean up sport

After a year of financial uncertainty, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya has secured a major lifeline: the reinstatement of its national budget allocation for the 2024–2025 financial year.

The decision by the Kenyan government to boost ADAK’s funding from a meagre KSh 20 million to KSh185 million comes as the country intensifies efforts to combat doping and protect the integrity of its globally renowned sporting achievements.

The move follows warnings from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which had flagged ADAK’s drastically slashed budget as a threat to Kenya’s compliance with international anti-doping standards. During an in-person audit in May 2024, WADA issued Corrective Actions, pointing directly to the impact of the funding cut.

“This reinstatement is not just a financial boost, it’s a clear signal that Kenya remains resolute in safeguarding clean sport,” said Peninah Wahome, acting Chief Executive Officer of ADAK.

The restored budget means ADAK can now ramp up its key activities, including doping tests, intelligence gathering, investigations, and education. The agency reported that in the 2023/24 financial year, it conducted 4,161 doping tests well above its initial target of 3,500. It now aims to surpass that figure in the current year.

“Following sustained advocacy, lobbying and inter-agency collaboration, the budget was recently enhanced to KSh 185 million revitalising ADAK’s testing, education, and intelligence functions,” Wahome confirmed.

This financial reprieve couldn’t come at a more critical time. Kenya is currently preparing to send a team to the 2025 World Athletics Championships, due to take place this September. Ensuring that the athletes are clean and compliant is now a national priority.

“Kenya is on schedule to comply with the World Athletics Rule 15 requirements,” Wahome said, adding that the agency is working “around the clock” to address WADA’s concerns and meet all mandatory requirements.

While ADAK’s core operations in athletics were protected through a separate five-year government pledge of KSh 650 million annually, the broader agency functions were threatened by the earlier budget shortfall.

The recent reinstatement now allows the agency to continue its multi-pronged strategy, including collaborations with the Athletics Integrity Unit and Athletics Kenya under the Enhanced Anti-Doping Project.

Beyond testing and enforcement, education remains a key pillar of ADAK’s strategy. The agency is expanding its school outreach programmes, workshops, and awareness campaigns in partnership with teachers, coaches, and community leaders. It has also worked with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to embed anti-doping education into school curricula.

“Anti-Doping Education remains the first point of contact for athletes, athletes support personnel and other persons,” said Wahome. “Our long-term goal is to make anti-doping education the cornerstone of athlete development from an early age.”

Part of ADAK’s current focus involves scaling up intelligence-gathering capabilities and enhancing partnerships with law enforcement agencies to dismantle doping networks. Wahome said the agency is actively engaging with both national and international stakeholders to close gaps in the system.

“We firmly believe that this war will be won—and very soon,” she said.

The agency also took a firm stand against the controversial concept of the “Enhanced Games”—a proposed sporting event where performance-enhancing drug use would be permitted.

“This idea undermines decades of global anti-doping efforts and poses serious risks to athlete health and the integrity of sport,” Wahome warned. “ADAK strongly opposes the practice and participation in the Enhanced Games.”

Despite the challenges, the mood within ADAK is one of determination and resilience. With renewed financial backing and growing cooperation across sectors, the agency is positioning itself as a key player in restoring Kenya’s credibility on the international sporting stage.

“We remain committed to clean, fair competition and continue to celebrate athletes who choose to ‘Stay Clean and Win Right,’” Wahome concluded, calling on all stakeholders—athletes, schools, federations, sponsors, and the public—to join in protecting the spirit of sport.