ADAK urges caution on supplements as doping spotlight shifts to Tokyo worlds

As the countdown to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo intensifies, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has advised athletes to be extremely cautious when using supplements — a common link in many recent doping violations.

Speaking to our sister station, Chamgei FM, ADAK’s Head of Education and Research, Dr. Martin Yauma, noted that while some supplements may be safe, many contain hidden banned substances or are contaminated during manufacture.

“We are not saying all supplements are bad — but athletes must understand the risks. Most of the recent anti-doping cases we’ve handled in Kenya are supplement-related,” Dr. Yauma explained. “Unless fully verified, it’s safer to avoid them altogether.”

With the World Championships trials set for July 22nd, ADAK has already cleared 120 athletes who are now under strict watch to meet Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Rule 15. This requires three no-notice out-of-competition tests.

“Rule 15 compliance is not optional. Every athlete seeking to represent Kenya in Tokyo must meet this threshold,” said Dr. Yauma.

He also broke down the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) process — a key global requirement for top-tier athletes since Kenya is under Category A

“All RTP athletes must submit accurate whereabouts every day — including their training and competition schedules, and a fixed one-hour window where they can be found for testing. Misses can trigger violations,” he added.

Beyond testing, Dr. Yauma expressed concern over rising cases of blood doping and marijuana use, calling for deeper awareness among athletes.

“We’re seeing more blood manipulation cases. Cannabis use is also up. But the biggest gap is still knowledge — athletes don’t fully understand what’s expected of them under anti-doping rules,” he said.

As the road to Tokyo continues, ADAK is banking on education, outreach, and firm regulation to ensure Team Kenya remains compliant and clean on the global stage.