The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has recently suspended 33 Kenyan athletes for doping violations. This development is part of an ongoing effort to intensify the fight against doping in Kenyan sports. The suspensions include athletes from various disciplines such as athletics, rugby, and bodybuilding.

Prominent among those suspended are elite athletes like sprinter Samuel Imeta, 2021 World Under-20 3,000m silver medallist Zena Jemutai, and Africa 800m champion Jarinter Mawia. The substances they tested positive for include anabolic steroids and other banned performance enhancers.

ADAK’s Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Shibutse, has emphasized that this increased testing and stricter penalties are necessary to maintain the integrity of sports in Kenya. The agency has started using advanced testing methods such as Dried Blood Spot samples and is conducting more no-notice tests to catch violators.

The issue of doping in Kenya is not new, but the recent surge in cases has been partly attributed to the long pause in competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many athletes desperate to make up for lost time and earnings.