Italian sports agent charged with doping in Kenya

Italian sports agent Federico Rosa

Italian sports agent Federico Rosa, who managed disgraced former marathon star Rita Jeptoo, was on Thursday charged in a Kenya court with doping offences.

Rosa, 30, a director of Italy-based sports management company Rosa and Associati, denied six counts of doping athletes, including Jeptoo who was banned for two years in 2014 after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO.

Prosecutors allege that Rosa -- who was arrested earlier this month along with his father Gabriele who has not been charged -- was involved in "administering a prohibited substance through a prohibited method" in the town of Eldoret close to Kenya's famous high-altitude training town of Iten.

Rosa and Associati manage several top Kenyan and African athletes, including former Olympic and three-time 1500m world champion Asbel Kiprop, world 800m bronze medallist Eunice Sum and reigning London marathon champion Jemima Sumgong all of whom are members of Kenya's Rio Olympics team.

The charge sheet accuses Rosa of doping Jeptoo in 2014 and another runner, Elijah Boit, between 2004 and 2008.