The move has given 1500m world champion Timothy Cheruiyot a last-minute place on the squad.

Cheruiyot's inclusion as the world No.1 will make it harder for in-form Australian runner Stewart McSweyn to win a medal.

McSweyn has been in brilliant touch during 2021 and is rated a genuine Tokyo medal chance.

He became the first Australian to break the 3:30 barrier in the 1500m when he bettered his own national record but could only manage fourth to Cheruiyot in Monaco last week.

Cheruiyot wasn't initially on the Kenya team after finishing fourth at the trials and he will replace 18-year-old Kamar Etiang, who surprised to finish second at the trials in a personal-best time.

But Etiang hasn't met doping regulations that require Kenyan athletes to take at least three out-of-competition tests within 10 months of a major championship.

Another runner, United States-based 400m hurdler Moitalel Mpoke Naadokila, was also taken off the team because he hasn't met the doping test requirements.

This year, Kenya has largely avoided the many doping scandals that marred its build-up to the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and placed severe scrutiny on the country's celebrated distance runners.

Race walkers Samuel Gathimba and Emily Ngii also won't be going to Tokyo after their qualifying times at the Kenyan trials weren't certified because there wasn't a World Athletics official from outside the country present, Korir said.

He said the Kenyan team tried to arrange for Gathimba and Ngii to compete at an event in Spain to qualify but weren't able to arrange that in time because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Kenyan newspaper the Daily Nation reported that Gathimba and Ngii have refused to leave the Kenyan team base in Nairobi until the reasons for their exclusion are explained to them.

Australian Associated Press