Kenyan athlete Albert Korir (32), winner of the prestigious New York City Marathon in 2021, has been handed a five-year suspension after admitting to doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed on Monday.
The 32-year-old tested positive for a synthetic form of erythropoietin (EPO), a substance that stimulates red blood cell production, during out-of-competition tests conducted in Kenya in October 2025.
The AIU stated that Korir received a one-year reduction from the initial six-year ban “based on an early admission and acceptance of the sanction.” His five-year suspension began on January 8, 2026, the date of his provisional suspension, and will run until January 7, 2031.
Korir won the New York City Marathon in 2021 with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 22 seconds, and finished third in 2023 with a personal best of 2:06:57. He also claimed victories at the Ottawa Marathon in 2019 and 2025.
The sanction comes nearly six months after fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich, the current world marathon record holder, was suspended for three years after admitting the use of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a banned diuretic used as a masking agent.
For many in Kenya, running offers a path out of poverty, placing immense pressure on athletes. Some turn to doping as the country lacks the necessary infrastructure to monitor stars effectively.
Kenya has worked to clean its image after a series of doping scandals around the 2016 Rio Olympics led to it being declared non-compliant by WADA. Since then, more than 140 Kenyan runners, mainly distance specialists, have been sanctioned for doping violations.
In June 2024, Kenya imposed its first lifetime ban on marathon runner Beatrice Toroitich and a six-year suspension on 10km record holder Rhonex Kipruto.