The 32-year-old Kenyan elite marathoner and 2021 New York Marathon champion Albert Korir has been formally handed a five-year ban after testing positive in three drug tests within a short period. Violation details: three positives in one month and the shadow of CERA According to the official report published this Monday by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which handles anti-doping matters in athletics, Korir’s case is striking. In last October, within less than a month, he provided three samples on October 3, October 13 and October 21. Shockingly, all three samples tested positive for the same prohibited substance. The banned substance was Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (CERA). CERA is a synthetic compound based on EPO (erythropoietin). Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, substances of this type are strictly prohibited. For marathoners who rely heavily on aerobic endurance, EPO-type drugs can substantially boost blood oxygen-carrying capacity by increasing red blood cell counts. January 8: Korir was formally notified of the positive tests. That day also became the start date of his five-year suspension, meaning the ban is applied retroactively. January 12: The AIU publicly announced a provisional suspension for Korir’s use of CERA. January 12 (same day): Faced with conclusive evidence, Korir signed and returned the relevant forms, formally admitting his anti-doping rule violation and accepting all resulting sanctions. Disqualification of results: 2025 New York Marathon third place stripped In addition to the lengthy five-year ban, Korir faces severe disqualification of results. Under anti-doping rules, all his competitive results from the date of the first positive sample — October 3 of last year — are declared null and void. This decision directly alters the final standings of the 2025 New York Marathon. His third-place finish in that World Marathon Major has been fully revoked. Fall from grace: from major champion to sanctioned athlete Before the positive tests, Korir had compiled an impressive record on the world’s top marathon courses. New York Marathon record: 2021 champion; 2019 and 2023 runner-up. Boston Marathon: 4th in 2023. Korir’s downfall once again highlights the rigor of the modern athletics anti-doping system in tracking and combating violations. Anyone attempting to use banned substances to push past physiological limits and steal honors will ultimately pay a heavy price. From the summit of a World Marathon Major champion to a five-year suspension, Korir’s case sounds the sternest of warnings for all professional and elite runners. Truth and purity remain the enduring core values of the marathon.