Albert Korir, the 2021 New York City Marathon champion, has been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a drug test.
The 31-year-old Korir Kenya, who also finished second in the 2019 and 2023 New York Marathon, tested positive for the prohibited substance CERA (Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator).
Korir finished third at last year’s New York City Marathon raced on November 2 in his last competitive race. He is the first Kenyan to be provisionally suspended for a doping offence by (AIU) this year.
Korir first burst into the limelight with a second-place finish at the 2016 Barcelona Marathon in a time of 2:10:08 before claiming a third place at Toronto Waterfront Marathon in Canada in 2:10:21 the same year.
In 2017, Korir won the Vienna City Marathon, achieving a personal best time of 2:08:40. He finished second at the Cape Town Marathon in 2018, with a time of 2:09:02.
In 2019, he won the Houston Marathon with a time of 2:10:02 and Ottawa Race Weekend in another personal best time of 2:08:03.
He made his debut in the World Marathon Major at the New York City Marathon the same year, where he finished second in 2:08:36 behind compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor, who triumphed in 2:08:13.
He finally conquered New York City in 2021 in a time of 2:08:22 before returning the following year but faded to finish seventh in a time of 2:13:27 as fellow countryman Evans Chebet won in 2:08:41. He finished sixth in Boston later that year in 2:08:50.
Korir came second in New York City in 2023 in a massive career best time of 2:06:57 as Ethiopian Tamirat Tola claimed victory in a course record time of 2:04:58.
Korir joins a list of high profile Kenyan athletes who have been suspended or banned over the last year.
Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich was banned for three years in October last year while former half marathon world record holder Kibiwott Kandie was sanctioned last March for evading testing.
The two-time national cross country champion Sheila Chelangat was banned for six years for taking Erythropoietin (EPO) and complicating the legal process.
AIU had banned Chelangat’s younger sister Faith Chepkoech, 21, for three years in September 2024 after admitting to the use of EPO.
The 2022 Standard Chartered Singapore Half Marathon champion, Alice Koigi was banned for two years for the use of methylprednisolone. Her results from October 26, last year, were expunged.
Also suspended last year were the 2018 world and Africa under-20 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo, 2023 world cross country team gold medallist Edinah Jebitok, and the 2024 national 10,000m champion Roncer Konga.
Others are 2023 Barcelona Half Marathon champion Charles Langat, Milan Half Marathon champion Morine Michira, 2024 Nairobi Standards Chartered Marathon champion Ronald Kurgat, 2022/2023 Frankfurt Marathon champion Brimin Kipkorir.
The number of international disciplinary cases brought by the AIU has increased from 62 in 2021 to 100 in 2024, according to the body’s annual reports, while national cases went up from 185 to 305.
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