Uhuru meets top Sports officials after WADA non-compliance order

Athletes run in a tea plantation during a national marathon in the Nandi Hills, on the outskirts of the town of Kapsabet, near Eldoret, western Kenya, March 20, 2016. Photo/REUTERS
Athletes run in a tea plantation during a national marathon in the Nandi Hills, on the outskirts of the town of Kapsabet, near Eldoret, western Kenya, March 20, 2016. Photo/REUTERS

The President held talks with top sports officials on Friday after WADA said Kenya did not comply with its anti-drugs code, throwing doubt on

athletes' participation in the Rio Olympics.

Kenya

passed legislation in April to criminalise doping, but WADA said on Thursday it needed to make changes to ensure compliance with the code, which sets a framework for consistent rules and policies around the world.

Kenya, for decades a leading power in middle- and long-distance running, now faces the risk of missing the August 5-21 Games in Rio de Janeiro if the International Olympic Committee so decides.

President Uhuru

Kenyatta, Sports CS Hassan Wario and others met "over WADA compliance issues", State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu wrote on his Twitter account. He did not give further details.

WADA had given

Kenya

until May to enact the anti-doping law or be declared non-compliant. The president signed the new legislation into law on April 22.

But WADA President Craig Reedie said on Thursday that it was not in line with the organisation's requirements.

"We have been working with

Kenya

for a number of years and thought we had agreed that the draft legislation and rules were entirely compliant,"

he said.

"It would appear that during their parliamentary process changes were made that unfortunately weren't code-compliant, so we will be in touch with

Kenya

to try and resolve that at the earliest possible moment."

Read:

Kenyan athletes won two gold medals, four silvers and five bronze at the last Olympics in London.

Up to 40

Kenyan athletes have failed doping tests since 2012, the biggest name among them being former three-time Boston City Marathon and Chicago Marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, now serving a ban.

Kenyan running great Kipchoge Keino, who is chairman of the National Olympic Committee ofKenya

(NOCK), called WADA's move "very unfortunate" but said his government had not acted quickly enough against doping.

WATCH: The latest videos from the Star