The creation of ADAK was announced in Paris at a Foundation Board meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which also approved a much-needed three per cent budget increase for the Montreal-based organisation from next year, when a revised World Anti-Doping Code comes into effect.

With deficits of more than $2 million (£1.3 million/€1.6 million) reported between 2010 and 2013 and demands on resources as onerous as ever, the agency had been forced in 2014 to take the unusual step of asking Executive Committee and Foundation Board members to meet their own costs in attending WADA meetings.

Today's meeting also approved the formation of a new body - an "independent, non-political" Compliance Review Committee to provide the Foundation Board with advice, guidance and recommendations on compliance matters.

WADA said that this process would enable the "implementation of practical and effective anti-doping programmes to be discussed in a coordinated fashion with every code signatory".

On Kenya, WADA revealed that it had met Kenyan officials in Cape Town after last month's publication of a Kenyan Anti-Doping Task Force report exploring "allegations of widespread doping among Kenyan athletes".

Rita Jeptoo tested positive for erythropoietin prior to her victory at the Chicago Marathon in October ©Getty Images


Anti-Doping Norway and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency were also present at this meeting, where steps for initiating a new anti-doping organisation in Kenya were discussed.

WADA would now "oversee the comprehensive plan of action for establishing" ADAK, while the Chinese and Norwegian bodies would provide "technical training and guidance throughout the process".

Asked about when ADAK was likely to commence operations, Sir Craig Reedie, WADA President, told insidethegames it would be important that this should happen in time for the start of next summer's athletics season.

"There is a great urgency in doing it," Sir Craig said.

"They need to be doing unannounced, random, out-of-competition tests."

Kenyan sport was recently shaken by the revelation that one of its best-known marathon runners, Rita Jeptoo, tested positive for erythropoietin prior to her victory at the Chicago Marathon on October 12.

The athlete has requested analysis of her B-sample in a bid to clear her name after failing the out-of-competition doping test.

Sir Craig said the agency was "very appreciative" of the three per cent budget increase, "particularly given the economic difficulties experienced in many parts of the world".

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