2021 New York Marathon Winner Albert Korir Confesses to Doping, Hit with Five-Year Ban

Kenyan marathoner Albert Korir has been banned for five years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) following multiple positive tests for the prohibited substance CERA.

The sanction, which runs from January 8, 2026, until January 7, 2031, also disqualifies all of his results from October 3, 2025 onwards.

Korir, who admitted the violations and accepted the consequences, was provisionally suspended after three out-of-competition samples collected in October 2025 tested positive for CERA.

The AIU determined that the repeated use of the banned substance constituted aggravating circumstances, initially warranting a six-year suspension. His early admission reduced the sanction to five years.

The 30-year-old holds a marathon personal best of 2:06:57 and a half marathon best of 1:09:13. He is best known for winning the New York City Marathon in 2021, while also finishing second in the prestigious race in 2019 and 2023.

Korir’s ban is a major blow to Kenyan distance running, stripping him of results, medals, and prize money since October 2025, and ruling him out of competition until 2031.