Kenya removed from WADA watchlist

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 restore credibility in global athletics and strengthen its anti-doping framework. The announcement was made on Friday, the final day of a joint training session between the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya in Mombasa. ADAK Board Chairman Major (Rtd) Aphaxard Muthuri confirmed that WADA had formally closed Kenya’s compliance procedure, describing the development as the result of sustained collaboration and goodwill among stakeholders in the sports sector. “I am pleased to officially announce that the compliance procedure concerning Kenya has now been formally closed by WADA,” Muthuri said. “This decision affirms that Kenya’s National Anti-Doping Organisation is fully aligned with the World Anti-Doping Code and the applicable International Standards,” Muthuri added. Kenya had faced heightened scrutiny in recent years following a series of doping violations involving its athletes. The closure of the compliance procedure signals that the country has met WADA’s corrective requirements and strengthened its regulatory systems. Muthuri commended sports journalists for their role in promoting clean sport, emphasizing that safeguarding integrity in athletics is a shared responsibility. “It is a collaborative effort to ensure clean sport, and I am pleased that we are all on the same path,” he said. He also urged the media to uphold ethical and accurate reporting standards when covering doping-related cases. “Report doping cases with technical accuracy and legal sensitivity. Clearly distinguish between allegations, provisional suspensions, and final decisions. Protect athletes’ rights while safeguarding the integrity of sport. Educate the public on supplement risks, contamination, and the importance of Therapeutic Use Exemptions,” he added. ADAK Chief Executive Officer Peninah Wahome highlighted the progress the agency has made over the past decade, including enhanced cooperation with key institutions to protect athletes and reinforce compliance measures. “We are working closely with security agencies in Kenya to enforce directives, and we look forward to engaging the judiciary to ratify the agency’s decisions. We are dedicated to fostering a clean culture among our athletes,” Wahome said. She appealed to journalists to amplify positive stories about Kenyan athletes and avoid sensationalising doping cases. “Use your platforms to highlight positive stories about our athletes rather than glorifying doping, which discourages competitors and affects their ability to compete. Please help us tell these stories. We are not and will never be compromised. We will always be frank and just,” she said. The training session was also attended by National Olympic Committee of Kenya First Vice President Barnaba Korir, who underscored the importance of a united front in protecting Kenya’s sporting reputation. Speaking on  behalf of the NOC president, Korir outlined Kenya’s preparations for a packed international athletics calendar, including the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. “As Kenya prepares for three major global milestones, anti-doping preparedness must be understood not merely as a regulatory requirement but as a core high-performance imperative,” the statement read. Korir added that the NOC, in partnership with ADAK, has shifted anti-doping efforts from a reactive disciplinary approach to a proactive performance-protection system. “We have repositioned anti-doping into a framework that safeguards athletes, strengthens preparation, and preserves careers,” he said.