Anti-Doping Agency among biggest winners in revised budget

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has emerged among the biggest beneficiaries in the revised supplementary budget, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against doping and safeguarding its global athletics reputation.

According to the revised estimates tabled in Parliament, the agency is set to receive a significant funding boost following years of budget cuts that had crippled its operations and raised fears of international sanctions.

The increased allocation signals a policy shift by the government to prioritise clean sport, amid mounting pressure from global bodies such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and rising doping cases involving Kenyan athletes.

Previously, ADAK had suffered severe funding constraints, with its budget slashed drastically in recent years, limiting its ability to conduct tests and enforce compliance.

At one point, the agency’s funding dropped from hundreds of millions to just a fraction, severely undermining anti-doping efforts.

Sports officials and lawmakers have repeatedly warned that inadequate funding risks exposing Kenya to sanctions and eroding its hard-earned reputation as a global athletics powerhouse.

Officials say the new funding will enable the agency to scale up both in-competition and out-of-competition testing, expand athlete education programmes and strengthen surveillance systems targeting doping networks.

“We have scaled up both in-competition and out-of-competition testing, particularly targeting high-risk athletes,” ADAK officials told MPs during recent committee sittings.

The revised budget is also expected to enhance collaboration with international anti-doping bodies and improve compliance with global standards, which have come under scrutiny in recent years.

Kenya has faced increasing pressure to demonstrate commitment to clean sport, with authorities warning that persistent doping violations could trigger bans from international competitions.

Lawmakers welcomed the funding boost but emphasised the need for accountability and tangible results, noting that financial support must translate into stronger enforcement and deterrence.