- Harambee Stars defender Rooney Onyango obtains injunction on provisional suspension imposed on him by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.
- The ruling effectively freezes the suspension that had sidelined the player since February 12.
- The Harambee Stars defender had been issued a provisional suspension by ADAK on February 12.
Harambee Stars defender Rooney Onyango has successfully obtained conservatory orders from the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) regarding a provisional suspension imposed on him by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
The ruling, delivered by Justice Bernard Murunga on Tuesday afternoon, effectively freezes the suspension that had sidelined the player since February 12.
The Tribunal directed that the matter be certified as urgent and proceeded to issue an interim order staying Onyango’s provisional suspension while the case awaits a full inter partes hearing.
The order provides immediate relief for the right-back, specifically noting that the, “Applicant shall be free to participate in national team training, camps, travel and match participation”.
Harambee Stars defender Rooney Onyango obtains injunction
Furthermore, the Tribunal clarified the scope of his return to action by ruling that, “for specificity, he shall also be eligible for call-ups and participation during the FIFA international window”.
This decision ensures that the former Gor Mahia man, currently with Norway’s Sogndal Fotball, remains available for selection for the upcoming national assignments despite the ongoing legal dispute regarding alleged whereabouts failures.
Prior to this legal reprieve, the Harambee Stars defender had been issued a provisional suspension by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) on February 12.
The suspension was initiated due to whereabouts failures, a violation that occurs when an athlete records three whereabouts failures within 12 months.
Under the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS), athletes are required to be available for testing at specific times, and Onyango reportedly accumulated three such failures within a 12-month period.
This disciplinary action had effectively barred the Sogndal Fotball right-back from all football-related activities, including national team duties, until the Sports Disputes Tribunal intervened.
The legal process is set to move quickly, with the Tribunal ordering that the Respondent( ADAK) shall file and serve their responses to the Application on or before 4.00 p.m. on 6th March 2026.
Due to the time-sensitive nature of the football calendar, the court emphasized the need for an expedited hearing.
Consequently, both parties are expected to return to the Tribunal for a status update soon, as the order mandates that the Matter shall be mentioned on 10th March 2026 at 2.00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams by a panel consultation of Hon Eddie Omondi, Hon Allan Mola, and Hon Luke Irungu.