Kenyan Olympic Committee (NOC) chief Kipchoge Keino on Thursday slammed a German media report alleging widespread doping among the African nation's athletes.

Keino dismissed the allegations aired in a German TV report as a ploy to distract the athletes from their preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.

"Our athletes know only to well the consequences of using drugs. It should be remembered that we were given a gold medal at the last Olympics due to someone who had used drugs,"said Keino.

Middle distance runner Asbel Kipruto Kiprop was awarded the 1500m gold medal at he 2008 Olympics after Rashid Ramzi, who was competing for Bahrain, tested positive.

"We are working closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to educate the athletes. We have even invited them to come here and they are free to hold their out-of-competition tests with the athletes," he added.

The German TV report linked some Kenyan runners to doctors who performed blood doping, a practice to boost the number of red blood cells in the body to improve an athlete's performance.

Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said they have launched an investigation into the claims which he termed as a malicious attempt to ridicule the integrity of their athletes.