ADAK in support of WADA approved lab in Kenya

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has reacted with delight, backing the setting up of a World the-Doping agency approved lab in Kenya.

The move follows the approval of the LANCET Group of Labs in Kenya as a World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) Approved Laboratory for Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) blood analysis.

In a statement, ADAK Chief Executive Officer Japhter Rugut said the development is a key milestone in the fight against doping in Kenya and the greater East African region.

“Since our establishment in April 2016 we have continued to deal with the challenge of incurring enormous logistical and financial costs resulting from the technical process of transporting blood samples to a WADA accredited laboratory in Qatar for analysis.

“With the approval of the LANCET Group of Laboratories by WADA the logistical nightmare that we have contended with in relation to blood samples has now been effectively addressed. In addition, it has also eliminated the tangible risk of blood samples delaying to get to the laboratory for analysis.

“This means that the capacity and integrity of our blood testing process will be greatly enhanced. Internally, we are going to re-adjust our mechanisms to take full advantage of this opportunity to further strengthen our testing operations,” said Rugut.

Speaking at the ADAK headquarters in Nairobi,  Rugut also congratulated key stakeholders involved in the process of ensuring that the country acquires the necessary approvals by WADA to identify a laboratory that would carry out blood analysis.

“As a National Anti-Doping Agency, ADAK’s mandate of safeguarding the integrity of the Kenyan sport has received a great boost from this development. It has reinforced our position on the role of stakeholders in the fight against doping.

“I wish to commend the Government, through the Ministry of Sports and Heritage, the World Anti-Doping Agency, Athletics Integrity Unit, LANCET Group of Laboratories and all other players who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the country hosts such a facility,” he said.

Noting that the country, and the continent, will be the greatest beneficiary of the laboratory , the ADAK boss assured the sector of the Agency’s commitment to the promotion of clean sport in Kenya.

“Kenya’s capital Nairobi is a strategic regional hub and I have no doubt that we are going to see heightened Anti-Doping activities from other countries in view of the status of the LANCET laboratory.

“I call upon all stakeholders in the sports sector to support the efforts being put in place to ensure that we root out the doping menace from our sport in Kenya,” he added.