Winner of the New York Marathon suspended: doping found in his sample

Suspension of the New York Marathon Winner

According to Главком: The winner of the New York Marathon has been suspended: doping was found in his sample. 31-year-old Kenyan Albert Korir, who won the marathon in New York in 2021 with a time of 2:08:22, is now facing sanctions due to a positive doping test. This incident highlights the ongoing problem of the use of banned substances among athletes from Kenya.

Systemic Doping Problem in Kenya

In November 2025, Korir also finished third in the New York Marathon, and that same year he won the marathon in Ottawa. However, his achievements are now in question due to traces of doping found in his sample. The doping problem in Kenya is systemic: 46 athletes from this country were disqualified in the past year for violations of anti-doping rules. The total number of disqualified athletes from Kenya since 2016 has exceeded 140.

Kenya is currently under special monitoring by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and is undergoing a six-month probationary period. This situation raises concerns in the sports world, as at the beginning of 2024, the USA discovered an anabolic substance in another athlete, Marvin Bracey-Williams. Additionally, it was recently revealed that Katir forged documents to mislead investigators regarding the missed doping test on February 28, 2023. These events indicate serious compliance issues with anti-doping rules in Kenya and their impact on international sports.

The detection of doping in Korir highlights a systemic issue in Kenya's athletic environment, where frequent violations of anti-doping norms could lead to a deterioration of the country's reputation in international sports.

Under WADA oversight, Kenya has the opportunity to improve its testing and monitoring practices; however, the negative consequences are already being felt. Observers eagerly await further steps that may be taken by both national and international sports organizations to ensure integrity in competitions. This issue will be crucial for maintaining trust in athletes and sporting events in the future.