NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has been officially removed from the global anti-doping compliance watchlist after meeting international standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the government announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the decision followed confirmation that the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) had fully aligned its operations with the World Anti-Doping Code and related international standards.
“The Government of Kenya welcomes and notes with great satisfaction the decision by WADA to formally close the compliance procedure concerning Kenya and remove ADAK from the compliance watchlist,” Mvurya said in the statement dated March 4, 2026.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, WADA’s Compliance Review Committee verified that Kenya had implemented corrective measures following an audit conducted in May 2024 under the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS).
Reforms After Compliance Audit
The audit had identified governance and operational weaknesses within Kenya’s anti-doping system, prompting authorities to institute reforms aimed at strengthening oversight and accountability.
Mvurya said ADAK responded by implementing a comprehensive corrective action plan within the timelines required by WADA.
The reforms included strengthening governance and oversight structures, improving operational independence, enhancing results-management processes, and reinforcing intelligence and investigations capacity. Authorities also streamlined the management of athletes’ whereabouts systems — a critical component of global anti-doping monitoring.
“Following the audit findings, the Government moved swiftly and decisively to address the identified corrective measures,” Mvurya said.
The ministry, he added, provided policy direction, administrative support, and additional resources to ensure compliance with global anti-doping regulations.
Importantly, Kenya did not face formal sanctions during the compliance review period.
Signal to the Global Sporting Community
The government said the removal from the watchlist sends a strong signal to the international sporting community about Kenya’s commitment to clean sport.
“The removal of Kenya from the compliance watchlist sends a clear and powerful message globally: Kenya remains firmly committed to clean sport, institutional accountability and international cooperation in safeguarding the integrity of athletes and sporting disciplines,” the statement said.
Kenya has faced sustained scrutiny in recent years due to doping cases involving some elite athletes, which prompted tighter monitoring by international sports bodies.
Authorities say the latest decision reflects progress in addressing systemic weaknesses that had undermined confidence in the country’s anti-doping framework.
Continued Oversight
Despite the milestone, WADA will continue monitoring Kenya through its global compliance oversight system, a mechanism that ensures countries maintain anti-doping standards over time.
Mvurya acknowledged the continued oversight but described it as necessary for maintaining credibility in global sport.
“Compliance with the global anti-doping framework is a continuous obligation. WADA retains the mandate to monitor signatories under its ongoing compliance oversight system,” he said.
The government pledged to sustain investment in testing programmes, intelligence-led investigations, and education initiatives aimed at preventing doping among athletes.
Mvurya also commended ADAK officials, investigators and other stakeholders involved 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.
The government reiterated its commitment to protecting the credibility of Kenyan athletes and strengthening safeguards to ensure fair competition on the global stage.
