ADAK rallies athletes to shun unsafe medication and banned substances

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has called on athletes to remain vigilant and avoid taking over-the-counter medication without proper medical advice, warning that some drugs may contain banned substances.

Speaking to Citizen Digital during an awareness program with Kenya Ports Authority teams at Mbaraki, Mombasa, ADAK education officer Kennedy Mwai urged athletes to protect their careers by following anti-doping rules and staying away from performance-enhancing substances.

“Our work is to educate players on what they should avoid. Many athletes unknowingly consume products that contain prohibited substances,” Mwai said.

 He also encouraged athletes to cooperate during sample collection.

“We want players to be open and not run away when we come to take samples. It’s a normal procedure meant to ensure everyone is clean.”

Mwai warned that beyond the risk of suspensions, some banned substances carry serious health dangers.

“When someone uses supplements to increase red blood cells, they expose themselves to risks like heart attacks and strokes because the heart is overworked. Steroids are also harmful and can affect fertility,” he explained.

He advised athletes to avoid medication without proper prescriptions and always to inform their doctors that they are subject to testing at any time so they can be given safe treatment options.

Mwai further cautioned players against using commonly abused drugs such as muguka, miraa, and cannabis sativa, stressing that anyone found using them risks penalties that could derail their career.

“Bhang and Mogoka are on the prohibited list because they contain dangerous substances, and anyone found using them can be banned for up to two years,” he noted.

ADAK is in the Coast region this week, meeting various athlete groups and sports management teams as part of its ongoing campaign to promote clean and fair competition.