ADAK, SDT meet over anti-doping adjudication & legal alignment

At the heart of the discussions was the need to sharpen how anti-doping cases are handled from investigation to final rulings especially as Kenya continues to position itself as a regional leader in clean sport governance.

The forum brought together key legal and governance figures in sport, including Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) arbitrator John Ohaga SC, former SDT member and Continental Results Management Panel Chairperson Njeri Onyango SC, SDT Acting Chairperson Hon. Allan Mola, Secretary of the Sports Disputes Tribunal and CEO Dr. Leah W. Kaburu, tribunal members and secretariat officials, alongside ADAK technical leadership.

According to organisers, the sessions focused on key operational areas such as whereabouts management, results management, sample collection procedures, intelligence gathering, investigations, and athlete education areas that increasingly shape the outcome of anti-doping disputes.

Speaking during the forum, Ohaga praised ADAK for deepening capacity among tribunal members, saying the integrity of sport depends not just on testing but also on how cases are interpreted and ruled.

He stressed that non-analytical violations carry the same weight as analytical cases, noting that anti-doping rule breaches are governed by global standards rather than criminal law frameworks.

“Advocates need more training, not just athletes, because global standards must be properly understood and applied consistently,” he said.

Ms. Njeri Onyango, who played a role in the development of Kenya’s Anti-Doping Act, expressed optimism over the country’s progress.

“It is commendable to see how informed athletes have become. Today they are better equipped to stay clean and compete fairly,” she noted.

For ADAK CEO Ms. Wahome, the workshop comes at a crucial moment, with new tribunal members recently appointed and global anti-doping rules set for further updates ahead of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code set to take effect next year, continuous engagement remains critical to ensure alignment with evolving international standards.