Prominent agents Dr Gabriele Rosa and Federico Rosa were summoned by the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations for questioning

Two of the men behind many of Kenya’s top distance runners have been questioned by the Kenyan Police Anti-Narcotics Unit in Nairobi.

Sources close to Kenyan athletics informed AW that athlete agents Dr Gabriele Rosa and his son Federico Rosa, two senior figures at the Italy-based Rosa & Associati athlete management firm whose clients include Asbel Kiprop, Stanley Biwott and Jemima Sumgong, were questioned earlier today by officers in the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) after a raid at their hotel in Eldoret on Saturday.

One source told AW: “The doping issue has been lingering around this top management of Kenyan athletes of whom most have qualified for Rio Olympics.”

Another said: “I have been waiting for this news. There have been questions about some of his athletes who have been involved in doping.”

Rosa & Associati was last year banned from working in Kenya for six months, along with Volare Sports agency, by Athletics Kenya due to the volume of their athletes who have tested positive.

There is no suggestion that any of the previously mentioned athletes have committed any wrongdoing.

The Rosas have previously managed a number of athletes who have tested positive for drugs including Rita Jeptoo, the three-time Boston Marathon winner and twice a winner in the Chicago Marathon, who tested positive for EPO in 2014, and marathon runner Mathew Kisorio.

The news comes just days before Jeptoo is due to face the Court of Arbitration for Sport as she looks to get her two-year ban reduced.

Federico Rosa had earlier told AW that rumours police were investigating were false, saying that he was preparing to fly back to Italy, though it is understood he has had his passport confiscated, and has since confirmed to the Associated Press that he would be told on Tuesday whether he and his father were needed for further questioning.

The CID has yet to release an official statement and did not respond to a request for one.