Reports in the Kenyan media had hinted that the country's athletes faced a suspension of two or more years following soaring numbers of cases over the past year.

But World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said in Rome today following the World Athletics Council meeting that a serious response from the Kenyan Sports Minister, Amina Mohamed, meant both sides were now working towards a solution.

Coe however predicted it would be "a long journey" to regain trust.

There was no confirmation from World Athletics over whether a lengthy ban had been mooted as a possible lever for action, but Coe commented: "Following recent conversations with the Kenyan Sports Minister few weeks about the doping situation in Kenya, we have made some real progress.

"I received a letter from the Sports Minister last week which I have been given permission to share with you, and in it the Government has confirmed its agreement to add a further $5million (£4.17 million/€4.83 million) annually over five years.

"This will fund more people, more tests, more investigations and certainly bolster the already comprehensive education programmes in place.

"The Athletics Integrity Unit will continue to work closely with Kenya to implement the plan and help progress and achievements.

"But building back trust will be a long journey.

"I know that Athletics Kenya and the Kenyan Government feel that this has been a disfiguring period in what should have been a Herculean period for Kenyan athletics.

"But all the stakeholders that matter both domestically and internationally are now aligned to do everything we can to resolve this situation.

"I think it’s pretty clear that we have taken very seriously the escalating problem that has arisen in Kenya.

"Over the course of one year, 40 per cent of all doping positives reported involved Kenyan athletes.

"This is not something we are prepared to sit and allow to develop.

"I’m pleased to say that the Kenyan Government has taken some really serious action to try and resolve this problem as soon as possible, although my instinct is it is still a long journey.

"The letter was very important in that it was a recognition from the highest levels of Government that this was an issue that was disfiguring. 

"Kenyan athletics is not just important to the world family of athletics, it is also a very important part of the brand values of Kenya, and we needed some collective action in this case."

Kenya is one of seven "Category A" nations deemed by the AIU to have the highest doping risk and threaten the overall integrity of the sport.

At least 55 Kenyan athletes are serving bans with a further eight provisionally suspended, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit.

Diana Kipyokei and Lawrence Cherono, both former Boston Marathon winners, are among the high-profile Kenyan athletes currently banned.