Albert Korir, a former champion of the New York Marathon, has been slapped with a five-year suspension after confessing to doping violations.
The 32-year-old Kenyan runner returned positive results for CERA—an advanced, blood-boosting derivative of EPO—during three separate out-of-competition screenings conducted last October.
As a result of the infractions, all of Korir's race results dating back to those October tests will be wiped from the record books. This retroactive disqualification strips him of the third-place finish he secured at the New York Marathon last November.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced that the suspension will run through January 7, 2031. Korir managed to reduce his overall penalty by one year by cooperating and formally acknowledging the rule violations. In their official statement, the AIU noted that the trio of failed tests provided:
"clear evidence of the athlete's use of a prohibited substance on multiple occasions."
Korir has historically been a dominant force on the streets of New York. Long before his now-voided 2024 podium placement, he won the prestigious marathon in 2021, crossing the finish line in 2:08:22. He also earned second-place finishes in both 2019 and 2023.
His suspension adds to a growing list of high-profile sanctions in distance running. Last October, another prominent Kenyan athlete, women's marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich, accepted a three-year ban after similarly admitting to anti-doping infractions.