Kenya's athletics body stated that the 25-year-old long-distance runner, who finished fourth in the Tokyo Olympic 5,000m final two months ago, had been allegedly stabbed by her husband at their Iten home.

"We are still working to unearth more details surrounding her untimely demise," Athletics Kenya said in the statement.

"Kenya has lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances on the track," the statement read.

Tirop broke the women-only record in the women's 10,000m (10km) at the Road to Records Race hosted in Germany last month by finishing in just 30:01 minutes.

"Last week, Agnes Tirop finished an impressive second, timing 30:20 at the Valencia Half Marathon," Athletics Kenya said.

"Tirop's decorated CV also includes a World Cross Country title in 2015 during which she made history as the second youngest medalist at the level," it added.

In 2014, Tirop won the Africa Cross Country Championship in Kampala, Uganda, and the World Cross Country Championship in 2013 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Kenyan police said that an investigation had been initiated into the 'unnatural' death of  Tirop while her husband, who has been accused of stabbing the young athlete, had gone missing following her death.

"NPS wishes to assure the public of speedy and comprehensive investigations into the heinous crime," National Police Service (NPS)-Kenya tweeted.