The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has placed Kenya on a compliance watch-list over its failure to set up a national anti-doping agency (NADO). ‘WADA confirms that while some progress has been made with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), there is still a lot of work required’, read an 11 February 2016 statement. ‘WADA had asked a series of questions to the Kenyan authorities, and stressed that we needed the Kenyan Government to expedite, and show commitment to, the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO)’s development. We are awaiting concrete plans from the Kenyan Government for the funding of the NADO, and, crucially, the finalisation of Kenya’s legislation and anti-doping rules. We have not yet received the details nor the assurances we need from Kenya; and, therefore, this is now a matter for our independent compliance process.’

It is understood that Kenya will be given a period of time in which to finalise legislation and anti-doping rules, as well as demonstrate how its NADO will be funded, otherwise it will be declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. When WADA placed six countries on its compliance watch-list in November, they were given four months to demonstrate compliance. If a country or its NADO is declared non-compliant with the Code, as the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) was in November, then its athletes risk not being admitted to international competitions.