Athletics Kenya issues strict anti-doping warning ahead of World Championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 02.04.25. | 21:20
Kenya has about 440 active athletes abroad, and AK is conducting a performance monitoring exercise
Athletics Kenya (AK) President, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, has issued a stern warning to athletes who have not undergone at least one non-notice out-of-competition test by May 25, stating they will be ineligible to compete at the upcoming World Athletics Championships, set for September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Speaking at Riadha House in Nairobi, Tuwei emphasized that the 10-month testing program, which began on October 29, 2024, remains ongoing, with the final deadline for testing set for August 29, 2025, at 7 p.m. East Africa Time (EAT).
He urged all athletes to update their whereabouts and provide accurate information to ensure they do not miss any tests before the biennial event.
"Athletes must comply with the whereabouts rule. Those with ADAMS accounts should submit their details through the system and check for updates regularly. Those without accounts can request one or submit their whereabouts via the provided Google Forms link. Any change in location must be promptly updated in the system," Tuwei, who also serves as World Athletics Vice President, stressed as quoted by Athletics.co.ke.
He reiterated that athletes are subject to both in-competition and out-of-competition testing at any time, and failure to comply with testing authorities or sample collection procedures will affect their eligibility.
Additionally, he reminded them that they bear full responsibility for any substance found in their system and must check medications and supplements before use to avoid unintentional doping violations.
The event was also attended by Dr. Martin Yauma, the Principal Research and Development Officer at the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), who revealed that approximately 20 probable athletes currently training outside the country are under monitoring.
“We have established contacts with them and are making every effort to reach them through anti-doping education. We are organizing online sessions and mapping their testing schedules to ensure that those selected by Athletics Kenya meet the required eligibility criteria,” said Yauma.
Kenya has about 440 active athletes abroad, and AK is conducting a performance monitoring exercise.
A statistician is tracking results from competitions nearing Tokyo qualification standards to ensure no probable athlete is overlooked.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has ranked Kenya and Ethiopia in Category A due to the high number of doping cases.
Consequently, all athletes must be cleared before competing in global events, reinforcing the importance of strict compliance with anti-doping regulations.
