Twenty athletes will be barred from participating in the World Athletics Championships trials, after failing to provide their whereabouts for the first no-notice out-of-competition anti-doping test by the lapse of the 24th May,2025 deadline.
Addressing the media today in Nairobi, ADAK head of education and research Dr Martin Yauma, said 120 athletes from a list of 145, submitted by Athletics Kenya, underwent the 1st no-notice out-of-competition as per section 15 of the Athletes Integrity Unit requirement.
The agency reaffirmed that in their effort to send a clean team to Tokyo, only athletes who would have undergone three mandatory tests by the start of the Tokyo championship will be allowed to compete.
ADAK acting CEO Peninah Wahome, stated that 270 athletes are currently in the testing pool for the World Athletics Championships, with a goal of testing at least 400 athletes by September of this year.
“The agency has scaled up its testing programme with a targeted approach focusing on high-risk.Athletes and regions. This includes both in-competition and out-of-competition testing. In the 2023/2024 financial year, the agency conducted 4,161 doping tests, exceeding the target of 3,500.” Wahome said
She added that they intend to surpass the number of tests in this financial year in comparison to last financial year.
“The Agency is looking at surpassing those figures in FY2024/25. Additionally, we Can confirm that Kenya is on schedule to comply with the World Athletics Rule 15.”
Requirements as the country prepares to present a clean team during the forthcoming 2025World Athletics Championships in September this year. “ Said Wahome
The trials for the World Athletics Championships are set for between the 24th and 26th next month in Nairobi, where AK will select a team for the 20th global championships, which will be held in Tokyo from the 13th to the 21st of September this year.
