Kenya’s athletics chief Isaiah Kiplagat has revealed agents or coaches could be banned for life and even face prison sentences if their athletes are found guilty of doping.

Kiplagat, the president of governing body Athletics Kenya, announced new measures in an effort to combat the use of banned substances.

Kenya has been hit by a spate of positive drug tests, including for the leading marathon runner Rita Jeptoo, and there has been criticism not enough has been done to address the problem.

“If an athlete is found culpable, they will be banned in accordance with the new rules – which extend to four years,” Kiplagat said on the BBC Sport website.

“Agents will also be removed and they must be sanctioned. “In fact for agents it’s easier because, if you’re the one who injected or is found to have been contributing towards persuading the athletes to take banned substances, that’s a criminal offence.

“While athletes can be banned for four years, agents can go to jail.”