Adidas Backs Sawe With $50,000 Anti-Doping Fund for Second Year Running

Sabastian Sawe does not hide from the scrutiny. He invites it.

For the second year in a row, Adidas is pumping $50,000 — roughly Ksh 6.5 million — into a dedicated anti-doping testing programme for the reigning London Marathon champion. Twenty-five out-of-competition tests across 2026, spread through the calendar rather than bunched before race day. Each test costs over $2,000. The investment is deliberate and the message is obvious.

Kenya has a problem. Over 140 of its athletes are currently suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit. Ruth Chepng’etich — another Kenyan — is among the latest hit with a ban.

Sawe’s agent Eric Lilot put it plainly: “We wanted to help support the cause for clean athletes.”

Sawe himself is tired of the keyboard warriors. “I cannot worry about every individual who hides behind a computer,” he said.

He runs the London Marathon on April 26 against Jacob Kiplimo. The tests will keep coming regardless.