- Kenyan and former New York Marathon winner Albert Korir has been handed a five-year ban.
- Korir was sanctioned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after admitting to doping, with the decision confirmed on Monday, March 30.
- All of Korir’s results since October have been annulled, including his third-place finish at last November’s New York Marathon.
Kenya’s 2021 New York Marathon Champion Albert Korir has been banned after admitting to doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed on March 30.
Korir confessed to an anti-doping violation after testing positive for CERA, a potent blood-boosting substance and modern variant of EPO, across three out-of-competition tests in October 2025.
The 31-year-old’s sanction was initially set at a mandatory four years, but it was increased to six due to aggravating circumstances, before being cut down by a year thanks to his early admission and acceptance of the penalty.
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Former New York Marathon winner Albert Korir slapped with five-year ban
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has stated his ban will expire on 7 January 2031, with Korir benefiting from a one-year reduction for owning up to the violations.
“The AIU has suspended Albert Korir (Kenya) for 5 years from 8 January 2026 for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (CERA). Disqualify results from 3 October 2025.
A Notice of Allegation was issued to the Athlete on 8 January 2026. On 12 January 2026, the Athlete confirmed that he admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and accepted the asserted period of Ineligibility of six (6) years.
The Athlete shall therefore receive a one (1) year reduction in the asserted period of Ineligibility pursuant to Rule 10.8.1 ADR based on an early admission and acceptance of sanction,” part of the AIU statement read.
All of Korir’s results since October will now be wiped out, including his third-place finish in the New York Marathon last November.
He will keep his 2021 New York Marathon title, but the 2019 and 2023 runner-up was stripped.
He won the 2021 New York marathon in a time of 2:08:22 and came third in 2023 with a personal best time of 2:06:57, and he won the Ottawa marathon in 2019 and 2025.
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In recent months, Kenya has been under close watch by anti-doping agencies, and doping cases have kept popping up in the headlines for the nation famous for its middle and long-distance runners.
Korir becomes another big name from Kenya after, last October, women’s marathon world-record holder Ruth Chepngetich was handed a three-year ban for admitting to anti-doping rule violations.
Additionally, Kenya has worked to clean up its image following a string of doping scandals around the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which led to it being declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
More than 140 Kenyan runners, mainly long-distance athletes, have been sanctioned for drug offenses since then.
In June 2024, Kenya issued its first lifetime ban to marathon runner Beatrice Toroitich and a six-year suspension to 10km record holder Rhonex Kipruto.
