Kenyan world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop was involved in a car crash on Sunday night but escaped with bruises.

Kiprop was returning to his Eldoret home from Kabarnet, situated in Kenya's Rift valley region, when the car he was driving hit a rock and veered off the road, his friend Wilson Kipsang told AFP.

"He's okay. He was treated at the hospital in Eldoret for some bruises and allowed to go home," said world marathon record holder Kipsang, who accompanied Kiprop and his fellow passenger, James Kangogo to hospital.

"The car's front bumper was slightly damaged," added Kipsang.

The 24-year-old Kiprop, who was awarded the Beijing Olympic 1500m gold after Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi tested positive for doping, successfully defended his world title in Moscow in August.

He also won all his three Diamond League races over the distance this season in Doha, Shanghai and Monaco.