WADA sanctions loom over Kenya's Anti-Doping Agency after funding cuts cripple testing operations

The Anti-doping Agency of Kenya is under a huge threat of being sanctioned following the financial crisis that has slowed its operations.

Following the treasury budget cut for the financial year 2024/25, ADAK outgoing chairman Daniel Makdwallo told the media that it has been difficult to conduct their normal operations since there are no funds to conduct their operations.

Makdwallo announced that their budget has been cut by Ksh 208 million from last year when they were allocated Ksh 288 million. This year, ADAK has been given Ksh 20 million to cater for all its operations, something that has proven futile, since salaries have to be paid on top of testing athletes from all over the country.

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He pointed out that being signatories to the UNESCO code of anti-doping, the country runs a risk of being sanctioned by the World Anti-doping Agency.

“However, there is a concern which I thought prudent to point out. This financial year 2024/25, the Agency has not been allocated funding to undertake its core mandate programs (i.e. testing, education, results management and I & I),” Makdwallo said.

“This move has grounded the Agency and we are not able to fulfill our obligations hence risking non-compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code. This could easily make the country lose the gains we have made so far. I urge the National treasury to reconsider this funding gap and reinstate the budget for the Agency in order to protect Kenyan athletes,” he added.

He added that ADAK cannot source funds from any other place since and it has to be solely funded by the government since it is one of the conditions to successfully run an anti-doping program in a country.

“This is to avoid any conflict of interest from any other possible sponsors. This journey of bringing Kenya from a point where there was no anti-doping program to where it is today has not been easy but worthwhile but I want the incoming board to continue the fight against doping,” he said.

Meanwhile, he clarified that the $5 million that the government pledged for testing athletes for the next five years is still on but the funds were directed to strictly testing the athletes and not any other sports people from other disciplines.

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Makdwallo added that the main focus should be on allocating funds to raising the bar in infrastructure and the testing programs are also enhanced.

“This calls for a balance…we have to set aside funding for building infrastructure but also ensure that anti-doping programs take place. My plea to all stakeholders concerned with the funding of anti-doping is that it cannot be let go, we have done too much to let anti-doping slide,” he said.

“We would have wasted a good environment that we have created. Let us think about funding anti-doping adequately because it is all about the integrity of Kenyan sportsmen…let us give them a chance to compete internationally.”

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He also claimed that they have not been able to test athletes comprehensively since the crisis and the only athletes who have gone through the right procedures of testing are the ones who were in action at the Paris Olympic Games since they had a special program running. He explained that their day-to-day programs have stopped.