Albert Korir, New York City Marathon Champion, Faces Five-Year Doping Ban
Kenyan Distance Runner Albert Korir Banned for Doping Violations
Kenyan distance runner Albert Korir has been handed a five-year ban after admitting to doping offenses. The Athletics Integrity Unit announced the suspension on Monday, following positive tests for a blood-boosting substance.
Korir, a familiar competitor at the New York Marathon, tested positive in three separate samples collected in October while preparing for the marathon on November 2, where he finished in third place. The verdict by the Athletics Integrity Unit disqualified all of Korir’s results from October onward, including his placement in New York.
According to the ruling, the positive results constituted "clear evidence" of multiple uses of a prohibited substance, which falls under the category of aggravating circumstances. The ban was shortened by one year due to Korir’s admission of guilt, and he will be ineligible to compete until January 2031.
Korir, 32, will retain his title from the 2021 New York Marathon, having also secured runner-up positions in the 2019 and 2023 events, along with a third-place finish in 2024 and 2025. Additionally, he has victories in other prominent races, including the 2019 Houston Marathon and the Vienna Street Race in 2017.
Korir tested positive for Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator (CERA), a substance that promotes red blood cell production similarly to the banned drug EPO. CERA is legally utilized for treating anemia linked to chronic kidney disease and is typically administered bi-weekly.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reported last October that Kenya has made substantial progress in its fight against doping, though the country remains on probation as it continues to enhance its regulatory measures. This follow-up came after Kenyan marathon record holder Ruth Chepngetich received a three-year ban for using Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic used to mask other prohibited substances.
