Kenya has been officially removed from the compliance watchlist of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its anti-doping systems and restore confidence in its athletics integrity.
In a statement released Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, welcomed the decision, saying it reflects Kenya’s commitment to meeting global anti-doping standards.
“The Government of Kenya welcomes and notes with great satisfaction the decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency to formally close the compliance procedure concerning Kenya and remove the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya from the compliance ‘watchlist’,” Mvurya said.
The decision follows an audit conducted in May 2024 under the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS). Acting on the recommendation of its Compliance Review Committee, WADA confirmed that the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) had aligned its operations with the World Anti-Doping Code and international standards.
According to the government, ADAK implemented a comprehensive corrective action plan following the audit findings. The reforms included strengthening governance and oversight structures, improving operational independence, and enhancing results management processes.
The plan also reinforced intelligence and investigative capacity while streamlining the management of athlete whereabouts systems a key component in global anti-doping monitoring.
“Throughout this process, the Government of Kenya treated the matter with the seriousness and urgency it deserved,” Mvurya said. “Importantly, during this period, no formal non-compliance consequences were imposed on Kenya.”
Kenya, globally renowned for its dominance in long-distance running, has in recent years faced heightened scrutiny due to rising doping cases among athletes. The government has since taken steps to tighten regulations and increase investment in anti-doping programs.
Mvurya said the removal from the watchlist sends a strong message to the global sporting community that Kenya remains committed to clean sport.
“The removal of Kenya from the compliance watchlist sends a clear and powerful message to the global sporting community: Kenya remains firmly committed to clean sport, institutional accountability, and international cooperation in safeguarding the integrity of athletics and all sporting disciplines,” he said.
Despite the progress, the government acknowledged that compliance with international anti-doping regulations is an ongoing responsibility.
“While we celebrate this milestone, we remain fully aware that compliance with the global anti-doping framework is a continuous obligation,” Mvurya added.
WADA will continue monitoring compliance among signatories under its oversight system, a mechanism Kenya says it welcomes as necessary for strengthening credibility, transparency, and trust in sport.
The Kenyan government said it will continue to strengthen anti-doping systems through sustained investment in testing programs, intelligence-led investigations, education initiatives, and stronger legal and governance frameworks.
Mvurya also commended ADAK leadership and staff, along with intelligence and investigations teams and other stakeholders, for their role in implementing the reforms that led to the decision.
“Kenya’s global sporting reputation has been built on talent, resilience and discipline. As a nation, we remain unequivocal that the future of Kenyan sport must also be defined by integrity,” he said.
