Kimetto, who boasts a personal best of 2 hours 40min 28sec, tested positive for norandosterone, a substance often found in over-the-counter nutritional supplements, and has been banned for two years, beginning on October 12, 2014.

Kiplimo, meanwhile, tested positive for the same substance following a race in China last April.

Her two-year ban will mean her best half marathon time of 1:10.21, achieved at the race, will be nullified.

Although the duo are minor names in comparison with Rita Jeptoo, the three-time Boston Marathon champion who tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in October, it represents a further blemish on a country whose strong athletics reputations is being gradually tarnished as more cases emerge.

Athletics Kenya's (AK) Medical and Anti-Doping Commission also confirmed six others runners - Philip Kibiwot Kandie, James Maunga Nyankabaria, Alice Ndirangu, Elizabeth Jebet Chelagat, Isaac Kimaiyo Kemboi and Bernard Mwendia Muthoni - are under suspicion.

No further information was given, however, on the case involving Jeptoo, suspended from competition pending testing of a B-sample due to take place later this week.

The latest cases follow the one involving Rita Jeptoo in October ©Getty Images



Nor did AK comment in detail on the reports of a list naming 150 athletes with suspicious blood results taken between 2006 to 2008, of which 25 are allegedly Kenyans.

"AK would like to state that it has not received any formal communication in regard to the above said 25 athletes," a statement said.

This list, which forms one part of a series of allegations exposed by German television station ARD into doping, implicated many other nations as well as Kenya, with a "high profile" athlete from Great Britain among others reportedly on the list.

The investigation also exposed an alleged cover-up of "systematic" doping in Russia, with the World Anti Doping Agency and the International Association of Athletics Federations each promising full investigations.

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