The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has announced the reinstatement of its national budget allocation for the 2024–2025 financial year, a crucial development that reinforces Kenya’s commitment to clean sport and compliance with international anti-doping standards.

Earlier in the year, ADAK faced a severe funding cut from KES 288 million in 2023/24 to just KES 20 million for 2024/25, a reduction that threatened the agency’s ability to carry out essential testing, education, intelligence, and results management activities.

This drastic cut raised concerns from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which flagged Kenya’s risk of non-compliance during an audit in May 2024 and issued corrective actions aimed at addressing the impact of the budget constraints.

Following sustained advocacy and collaboration among government ministries, parliamentary committees, and the National Treasury, ADAK’s budget was recently increased to KES 185 million.

This funding boost is set to revitalizes the agency’s core functions, enabling it to enhance doping tests, education programs, and intelligence operations critical to safeguarding the integrity of sport in Kenya.

ADAK expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture, and the National Treasury for their roles in securing the funding.

The agency also highlighted ongoing efforts to fully address WADA’s corrective actions and maintain full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

According the agency’s leadership, despite previous budget challenges, ADAK has continued to implement its core mandates, including a multi-agency approach to anti-doping, strategic partnerships with the Athletics Integrity Unit and Athletics Kenya, and extensive education campaigns integrated into school curricula. The agency has also scaled up testing, conducting over 4,000 doping tests in 2023/24, surpassing targets.

ADAK has announced it’s commitment to expanding its reach through nationwide anti-doping ambassadors and deeper engagement with athletes, coaches, and federations.

The agency also opposes initiatives like the “Enhanced Games,” which promote the use of performance-enhancing drugs, reaffirming its dedication to clean, fair competition.

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