NAIROBI, Kenya -- Olympic bronze medalist Bernard Lagat tested positive for a banned performance enhancer, a finding Kenyan track authorities learned of four days after the start of the World Championships.

Lagat tested positive for erythropoietin, or EPO. He was in Paris for his specialty, the 1,500 meters, but did not compete.

David Okeyo, secretary general of Athletics Kenya, said Wednesday that while in Paris on Aug. 27 he received a letter from the International Association of Athletics Federation about the positive test.

The 1,500 finals were held the same day Athletics Kenya was notified about Lagat.

Okeyo said he told Lagat what happened, and he would have to skip the championships and leave the athletes' village.

"We decided to sit on the story because we felt by informing the media, that would demoralize the (Kenyan) team," Okeyo said.

He added the federation planned to make the information public after discussing the matter.

"We are really concerned bout the increasing number of Kenyan athletes being caught cheating," he said. "We will soon form a committee, and the athletes must be honest to tell us who is administering them the drugs."

Messages to the IAAF on Wednesday were not immediately returned.

EPO enhances stamina by increasing oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

In June, Athletics Kenya banned cross-country runner Pamela Chepchumba for two years after two blood samples taken during the world cross-country championships in March tested positive.