Hassan Wario has disbanded the National Olympic Committee of Kenya ©Getty Images

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has been disbanded today after a catalogue of logistical and mismanagement issues which "damaged the morale of athletes" during Rio 2016.

Kenyan Sports Minister Hassan Wario annouced today that all of their duties will be transferred to Sports Kenya.

"There was alleged mismanagement of the facilitation of our athletes and the entire team [of] Kenya ranging from accommodation and travel mishaps, mishandling of the accreditation of the list of participants to the provision of kits that never reached the athletes," he said.

"I do hereby disband the NOCK with immediate effect and transfer their responsibilities to the Sports Kenya as the interim custodian."

Problems have included a doping scandal in which a coach was expelled from the Games for impersonating an athlete, selection issues and tension between Athletics Kenya and the NOC.

Many team members remain here in Rio de Janeiro, it also emerged today, allegedly because the NOCK decided to wait in order to book cheaper flights.

While most other teams have already returned home with chartered jets and welcoming parades, Kenyan marathon runner Wesley Korir claims the team have been forced to move into a poor standard of accommodation after the Athletes' Village closed.

An eight person panel has been convened to carry out an urgent investigation and recommendations for further action.

It is due to be completed by September 30.

A separate probe has also begun by the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigation.

This comes after a successful Olympics in a sporting sense.

They won six gold, six silvers and one bronze medal, all in athletics, to become the leading African nation on the medals table.

NOCK secretary general Francis K. Paul has already denied wrongdoing and claimed Wario does not have the power to disband the organisation.

"We have not given our report and, from it, maybe you may find other things and you may find we were not in the wrong because we will give an account of all uniforms that we received, and all the uniforms that were distributed, and to whom," Paul said.

"We did what we were supposed to do, and you should ask the right people for answers. 

"We did our job very well. 

"We will not move from our offices, we do not occupy a Government building, and we pay our rent. 

"We are going nowhere."

Eliud Kipchoge received his marathon gold medal in the Closing Ceremony of Rio 2016, but problems have mounted away from the sport ©Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge received his marathon gold medal in the Closing Ceremony of Rio 2016, but problems have mounted away from the sport ©Getty Images

This marks another breakdown in relations between an NOC and a National Government, something the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had sought to avoid by tightening its rules on autonomy and Government interference.

Ireland's Patrick Hickey was appointed the IOC autonomy delegate in 2014, but is currently in jail here as investigations continue both in Brazil and in Ireland over his involvement in an alleged ticketing scandal surrounding the Olympic Council of Ireland.

insidethegames has contacted the IOC to ask for their response to the Kenyan Government decision and to ask who will be leading their actions in the absence of Hickey.

NOCK chairman Kipchoge Keino was awarded a special Olympic Laurel by IOC President Thomas Bach in front of billions of viewers during the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016.