Kenyatta penned the amendment yesterday, a day before the new World Anti-Doping Code came into effect.

According to the President's official Twitter account, the new law "amends the Anti-Doping Act of 2016 to align Kenya's legislative framework with the 2021 World Anti-Doping code and regulations".

It also "ensures the continued participation of Kenyan athletes in local, regional and international competitions in line with the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention against doping in sports".

Concerns had been raised in Kenya that the new bill had not yet been signed as the revised WADA Code became effective today.

Kenya introduced criminal laws as part of the Anti-Doping Act of 2016, granting officials the power to jail support staff found guilty in connection with doping.

This included the creation of a national testing authority, Anti-Doping Kenya, while it made doping an offence which could be punished by imprisonment.

Kenya has had a poor doping record in recent years and there are at least 66 track and field athletes from the country who are serving drugs bans.

Notable names on the list of Kenyan runners currently banned include the 2016 Olympic women's marathon champion Jemima Sumgong and former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang.

The 2011, 2013 and 2015 world 1500 metres gold medallist Asbel Kiprop is also banned, as is Elijah Manangoi, who succeeded him in 2017.

Kenya is in the Athletics Integrity Unit's highest risk category for 2021.