WADA say they have not received assurances they need from Kenya

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has referred Kenya to an "independent compliance process" over the country's record on drug-testing.

Over 40 Kenyan athletes have tested positive for banned substances in the last five years and the country has not yet been able to satisfy WADA that it is taking the action they deem necessary to tackle the issue.

Two Kenyan athletes, Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga, claimed in a media report on Wednesday that they were asked for a payment of 2.5million Kenyan shillings (£16,500) by an Athletics Kenya official for a reduction of their four-year sanctions.

Kenyan officials insist work on a national anti-doping organisation is progressing, but more will have to be done to satisfy WADA.

The organisation released a statement on Thursday evening which read: "Concerning media reports regarding Kenya's compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA confirms that, while some progress has been made with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), there is still a lot of work required.

"WADA had asked a series of questions to the Kenyan authorities, and stressed that we needed the Kenyan Government to expedite, and show commitment to, the national anti-doping organisation (NADO)'s development.

"We are awaiting concrete plans from the Kenyan Government for the funding of the NADO, and, crucially, the finalisation of Kenya's legislation and anti-doping rules.

"We have not yet received the details nor the assurances we need from Kenya and, therefore, this is now a matter for our independent compliance process."

Russia is currently banned from international competition after being ruled to be non-compliant with the WADA Code.

But the head of Kenya's Olympic Committee, Kip Keino, told BBC Sport on Thursday: "There is a change in this country. The government is committed.

"We saw what happened in other countries like Russia and we don't want that.

"Time is running out, but we are moving."