Kenyan athlete Albert Korir, winner of the prestigious New York marathon in 2021, was suspended for five years after admitting to doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reported this Monday (30).
Korir, 32, tested positive for a synthetic form of erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell production, in out-of-competition controls held in Kenya in October 2025.
The AIU said Korir received a one-year reduction from the initial six-year suspension “based on an early admission and acceptance of the sanction.”
His five-year suspension began on January 8, 2026, when he was provisionally suspended until January 7, 2031.
Korir won the New York City Marathon in 2021 with a time of 2:08:22 and placed third in 2023 with a personal best of 2:06:57. He also won the Ottawa Marathon in 2019 and 2025.
Korir’s sanction comes almost six months after his compatriot Ruth Chepngetich, the current marathon world record holder, was suspended for three years after admitting to using hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a banned diuretic used as a masking agent.
Running is a route out of poverty for many in Kenya, which puts greater pressure on athletes. Some end up resorting to doping, as the country lacks the necessary infrastructure to control its stars.
Kenya worked to clean up its image following a series of doping scandals surrounding the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which led to its declaration of non-compliance by WADA.
More than 140 Kenyan runners, mainly distance runners, have been sanctioned for doping violations since then.
In June 2024, Kenya imposed its first lifetime sanction on marathon runner Beatrice Toroitich and a six-year suspension on 10km record holder Rhonex Kipruto.
