Kenyan athletes have once again been cautioned against using dietary supplements without proper medical guidance, as concerns grow over the risk of consuming banned substances.
Victor Ashiali, an educator with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), issued the warning during a refresher course for athletes set to represent Kenya at the upcoming World Relays Championships in Guangzhou, China, on May 10–11.
“The local supplement market is largely unregulated, making it easy for athletes to unknowingly ingest banned substances,” Ashiali said. “It’s best to avoid supplements altogether unless recommended by a certified medical professional.”
Ashiali also emphasized the dangers of self-medicating or using over-the-counter drugs without proper consultation.
“Leave medical decisions to the professionals. Many banned substances are found in common medications. Always inform your doctor that you are an athlete—it’s critical to protecting your career,” he stressed.
The session covered key areas of anti-doping education, including testing protocols, the 2025 prohibited substances list, therapeutic use exemptions (TUE), and the Athletes’ Biological Passport (ABP). Athletes were also trained on how to correctly fill in their whereabouts, a vital requirement to maintain compliance with doping regulations.
Athletics Kenya (AK) vice president Paul Mutwii also addressed the team, encouraging them to uphold their discipline and give their best on the global stage.
“I’m impressed by your commitment and conduct during training. We expect all teams to perform well and qualify for the World Championships in Tokyo,” Mutwii said.
