Following the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the Kenyan Olympic Committee had to be dissolved due to numerous doping scandals, a strict control campaign was initiated by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). “Kenya is making great strides in the fight against doping,” said Sarah Shibutse, ADAK’s Executive Director, in an interview with AFP. “We are not relenting in this fight, which is at the heart of our national pride.”

For Paris 2024, Kenyan athletes have undergone a rigorous testing regime, with three out-of-competition tests in the past 10 months. ADAK has worked in conjunction with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Kenya’s Ministry of Sports, and local law enforcement to investigate and examine athletes.

Shibutse highlighted that this collaboration has led to the closure of several pharmacies suspected of supplying performance-enhancing drugs. All of these are located in the Rift Valley, known as the epicentre of distance running in Kenya.

In the past year, the number of anti-doping tests has increased significantly to 2,000. ADAK aims to triple this number over the year. “We are collecting more samples, which means more positive doping cases are being detected than before. This is a sign that the process is working,” added Shibutse.

During a visit to Kenya in March 2023, Brett Clothier, head of the AIU, warned that athletes should be prepared for stricter measures against doping. "One thing that everyone should be aware of is that with more testing, more cases will be reported, but that doesn't mean more doping. That is what is coming but it is the pathway to address this problem once and for all," Clothier explained.

Martin Sisa Yauma, head of anti-doping education and research at ADAK, noted that the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), which monitors blood values over time, has been effective in identifying offenders.

Among the most recent examples is marathon runner Beatrice Toroitich, who was banned for life a few weeks ago after her third positive doping test, becoming the latest in a long list of Kenyan athletes who have been sanctioned. This ban adds to those of Rhonex Kipruto, world record holder for the 10 km road race, and long-distance runner Rodgers Kwemoi, who will be banned from competition for six years. Both were penalised for anti-doping violations in recent months.

Returning to elite competition for athletes caught doping is often challenging. Mark Otieno, former national 100 metres champion, was suspended for two years after testing positive for the anabolic steroid metandienone before the Tokyo Olympics. Otieno tried to return last November to qualify for the Paris Olympics. “I don’t want this (doping suspension) to happen to anyone else,” Otieno commented, after failing to achieve the qualifying time of 10.00 seconds in the 100 metres.