Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta signs anti-doping bill into law

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law on Friday an anti-doping bill required to avoid a ban from the Rio Olympics for a nation famed for its runners but tainted by a spate of doping cases in recent years.

UKenyatta has signed the Anti Doping Bill marking Kenya's full compliance with WADA and commitment to athletics community of nations

— Spokesperson GoK (SpokesPersonGoK) April 22, 2016

The athletics world has been in turmoil since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a report in November citing widespread use of doping in the sport.

Kenya had been given May 2 deadline to comply with WADA regulations or face sanctions that could include a ban from this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Flanked by senior government officials and sportsmen and women, Kenyatta was shown signing the bill into law in a video released by the president’s office.

“Kenya is 100 percent committed to ensuring total compliance with international regulations on sports and athletics,” he said at the signing ceremony.

“This law is the continuation, not the end, of our efforts to stand against cheating and corruption in the sporting and athletics arena,” he said.

The law, demanded by WADA, will criminalise doping in a country with a history of middle and long-distance running excellence.

About 40 Kenyan athletes have been banned for doping in the last three years.

Kenya had missed a February deadline to establish a legal framework for its Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).