Kenyan long-distance runner Albert Korir slapped with five-year doping ban
Athletics
By
Robert Abong'o
| Mar 30, 2026
Kenyan long-distance runner Albert Korir has been handed a five-year ban after admitting to using a prohibited performance-enhancing substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed on Monday.
The 32-year-old, who won the New York City Marathon in 2021, tested positive for synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) during an out-of-competition test conducted in Kenya in October 2025.
EPO is a banned substance that boosts red blood cell production, enhancing endurance performance.
According to the AIU, Korir’s initial six-year sanction was reduced by one year after he made an early admission and accepted the charge.
His suspension took effect on 8 January 2026, the date of his provisional ban, and will run until January 7, 2031.
READ MORE
As Kenya braces for Iran war fallout, CBK forex reserves hit Sh1.82t
Standard Chartered targets key sectors in new financing push
Iran-US war costs Kenyan flower exporters Sh623 million
Tea factory bosses warn new law for sector to hurt farmers
Farmers turn banana stems waste into wealth
AMAC signs deal with Uganda's Grain Council to open regional markets
Konza, Microsoft bank on AI skills to accelerate women in creative economy
Iran war: Why Kenyans should brace for fuel crisis despite State's assurance
Korir rose to prominence after claiming victory in New York with a time of 2:08:22 and later finished third in the 2023 edition with a personal best of 2:06:57. He has also enjoyed success at the Ottawa Marathon, winning the race in 2019 and again in 2025.
His case adds to a growing list of doping sanctions involving Kenyan athletes, as authorities continue efforts to restore the country’s reputation in global athletics.
Kenya intensified anti-doping measures following a series of violations that culminated around the 2016 Rio Olympics, when the country was declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
More than 140 Kenyan athletes have since been sanctioned for doping-related offences.