NAIROBI, Kenya -- The Kenyan government has given the go-ahead for a new national anti-doping agency to begin work, allowing it to carry out tests and prosecute cases.

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya was officially recognized on Friday by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has been calling for Kenya to set up an anti-doping agency ever since allegations of widespread drug use among the country's dominant distance runners emerged in 2012.

This week, WADA warned that Kenya still hadn't done enough to combat doping and again urged the government to set up an effective anti-doping body.

Following the release of a WADA report this week alleging a vast doping program in Russia, Kenya is also under scrutiny for a recent surge in doping cases.