Tuwei made the claim in the wake of Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong having been confirmed to have failed an out-of-competition test earlier this month.

Sumgong tested for erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone which boosts red blood cells.

The marathon runner faces the prospect of a four-year ban should her B-sample come back positive.

The test which came back positive had been funded by Abbott World Marathon Majors, a group of six of the world's leading races.

Kenya has faced increasing pressure over the number of top athletes who have tested positive.

However, Tuwei has made a fresh claim that another Kenyan athlete has failed a test.

"There is another high-profile athlete who has also failed a doping test but we have to wait for legal procedures to be followed," he told Reuters.

"Obviously, we cannot say who the athlete is."

Athletics Kenya have also released a statement condemning cheating in sport and reminded athletes they could face legal proceedings should they commit a doping offence.

“We at Athletics Kenya want to put it on record that we condemn cheating in sport in general, whether by faking age of athletes, bribing officials or partaking of performance-enhancing substances in the strongest terms possible,” the statement read.

“We wish to remind our athletes that they will be held responsible for any doping offences and, in consultation with relevant authorities, we will not hesitate to evoke the laws of the land to deal with these offences.

“Doping is a criminal offence in Kenya now and those involved in this heinous act, which is threatening the lives of our athletes, will face the full force of law.

“We also wish to send a very strong message to athletes representatives, doctors, coaches and all athletes support personnel that those found culpable or proved to be encouraging our athletes in this line of sporting subterfuge will be charged as prescribed by the law of the land.

“In the recent past, Athletics Kenya set up Kenya Doctors Network where athletes are supposed to visit identified doctor only in case of any medical conditions.

“This procedure is in force and would like to remind all the athletes not to visit any other Doctor apart from those listed in the programme.

“It is also important to remind all athletes intending to travel abroad for any competition to seek clearance from Athletics Kenya.”

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture Hassan Wario claimed earlier this month that coaches and agents working with Kenya's top runners have been warned that they will face extra monitoring as part of an increased crackdown on doping in the country.

He warned that athletes caught taking banned drugs could face prosecution, as well as suspension from the sport.

Around 40 athletes from the nation have tested positive for banned drugs since 2012, including three-times Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo, who failed for EPO in 2014.