Vusumuzi Dube
Former New York Marathon winner Albert Korir has been banned for five years after admitting to doping.
The 32-year-old Kenyan tested positive for CERA — a potent blood-boosting substance and modern variant of EPO — across three out-of-competition tests in October 2025.
All of Korir’s results since October will now be disqualified, including his third place in the New York Marathon last November.
Great Britain’s Patrick Dever has been promoted to a bronze medal after finishing a second behind Korir in a time of two hours, eight minutes and 58 seconds.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has said his ban will expire on 7 January 2031, with Korir benefiting from a one-year reduction by admitting to the violations.
The AIU added that the positive tests constituted “clear evidence of the athlete’s use of a prohibited substance on multiple occasions”.
Korir was runner-up in the New York Marathon in 2019 before winning the title in 2021 in a time of two hours, eight minutes and 22 seconds.
He finished runner-up again in 2023 before a third place in 2024.
In October last year, women’s marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich was banned for three years after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations. —BBC
Online Reporter