Doping: Wada praises Kenya's progress

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

World Anti-Doping Agency has praised the progress made by Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya since its establishment last year.

With ADAK attaining WADA Code compliance mid last year, the agency has strengthened its effort in training of its doping control officers and trainers through numerous training programmes aimed at attaining same levels of competence with other established ant-doping organisations globally.

Director of Africa Regional Office Rodney Swigelaar, praised ADAK’s effort saying the global body is impressed with what Kenya’s agency has put in place in ensuring body discharges its mandate accordingly.

Swigelaar was presiding over a two-day collaborative meeting, which started on Tuesday-Wednesday between ADAK, WADA and Anti-Doping Norway (ADNO) in which the ADAK will benefit from enhanced trainings.

ADNO is being represented by Rune Andersen, a special adviser on international relations, Anne Cappelen (Director, International relations) and Anne Engelstad (Adviser, International relations).

“We know how young ADAK still is but we are impressed with all the effort put in place to establish it and the work they have done so far. The leadership has proven to be committed and dedicated in discharging its duties and at this point I can say ADAK is on track,” said Swigelaar.

He added: “Any new organisation will face challenges while setting up and so we understand what ADAK has gone through. But their progress is really impressive and we support ADAK’s partnerships with ADNO, it will help them ensure athletes run clean.”

The agency has so far taken its training efforts to over five thousand athletes stretching over different disciplines that includes hockey, athletics, rugby (both 7s and 15s) and martial arts in Mombasa.

ADAK has also conducted over 1,500 drug tests in the past seven months.

Though, the body is not fully fledged, it has been working in collaboration with WADA to draw up a four year strategic plan which will ensure Kenya stays in compliance with the universally accepted code and development and implementation of necessary mechanisms to protect clean athletes and sanction offenders.

The agency Chief Executive Officer Japhter Rugut pointed challenges facing ADAK that range from understaffing to funding and ruling out possibility of Kenya having its own WADA accredited laboratory in the near future.

“We are still faced with challenges of setting up, getting the right staff who understand what this business is all about and having a lab is the least of our priority at the moment. We are currently doing 800 tests and are likely to scale down to 500 yet for a lab to be viable, there needs to be at least 3500 tests. That would require regional cooperation,” said Rugut.

At the same time, Rugut also endorsed IAAF’s and Athletics Kenya’s efforts of forming the Kenya Doctors Network, saying the move will help alienate unlicensed medical practitioners who often help athletes use banned substances to enhance performance.

“In future, even other federations like Kenya Rugby Union, Hockey Union, Federations Kenya Football among others will be required to have their own team of doctors,” Rugut added.