Albert Korir, the Kenyan runner who finished third in last year's New York Marathon, has been handed a five-year doping ban after admitting to using the blood-boosting substance CERA.

Korir tested positive for CERA across three out-of-competition tests conducted in October 2025. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced that all results from October 2025 onwards, including his third-place finish in the November 2025 New York Marathon, are now disqualified. His ban will expire on January 7th, 2031, though he received a one-year reduction for his admission of the violations.

The ruling underscores the severe consequences athletes face for blood-doping violations, particularly those involving advanced substances like CERA, a successor to EPO. Korir's case follows a pattern of elite runners facing significant sanctions for similar infractions in recent years, highlighting ongoing challenges in clean sport enforcement.

This disqualification removes Korir from the record books for performances since October 2025 and impacts any potential future recognition tied to those results. The AIU's decision reinforces the strict anti-doping protocols governing international athletics competitions.