Western Australian Olympic hero Peter Bol tests positive for performance-enhancing drug

Jackson BarrettThe West Australian
Camera IconWestern Australian Olympic hero Peter Bol has failed a doping test and is now under investigation. Credit: The West Australian

Western Australian Olympic hero Peter Bol is vehemently protesting his innocence after failing a doping test and concedes his athletics career now hangs in the balance.

The 800m national record holder and Commonwealth Games silver medallist is protesting his innocence against a positive A sample for performance enhancing drug erythropoietin, or EPO, which is believed to have been returned during an out-of-competition period.

The positive sample dates back to a test taken on October 11, which he was made aware of on January 10, and the runner has been provisionally suspended by Athletics Australia, who confirmed the test result.

Bol released a statement via social media on Friday, vehemently claiming his innocence, and has handed over his laptop and mobile phone as part of the investigation.

Camera IconBol at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
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“It is critically important to convey with the strongest conviction that I am innocent and have not taken this substance as I am accused,” he said.

“I ask that everyone in Australia believe me and let the process play out.

“When I found out last week that the A sample from a urine test taken on 11 October had tested positive for synthetic EPO I was in total shock.

“To be clear, I have NEVER in my life purchased, researched, possessed, administered or used synthetic EPO or any other prohibited substance.

“Above all, I remain hopeful that the process will exonerate me. My career, hopes and dreams are literally hanging in the balance over these next few weeks, and I ask everyone to respect my privacy as i remain provisionally suspended.”

His team is now preparing to fight the allegations and believe the initial test was a “marginal reading” and are now sweating on the results of a B sample.

“It’s a brutal situation, the implications for Pete are massive,” his manager James Templeton said.

“Pete’s gutted, I’m gutted. I’m sure you can imagine. I believe in Pete’s innocence 100 per cent and completely stand by him.”

EPO is an endurance-based form of doping which boosts the body’s capacity to produce red-blood cells and allows it to use more oxygen during exercise.

It’s the same drug disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted to using during seven Tour de France victories.

Bol is already the Young Western Australian of the Year and was the heavy favourite to win Young Australian of the Year as part of next week’s Australia Day ceremony.

Camera IconPeter Bol is the 2022 Young Western Australian of the year. Credit: Salty Dingo/Salty Dingo

The 28-year-old made the final of the 800m — his pet event — at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and is a Diamond League meeting winner.

His remarkable story captured the hearts of the nation at those Olympics. The Sudanese-born refugee’s family moved to Australia when he was young, first to Queensland and then to WA where he was given a sports scholarship to St Norbert’s College.

On Friday afternoon shortly after the news broke, there were emotional scenes outside Peter Bol’s family home in Thornlie.

A family member told The West Australian they had been in touch with Bol but denied knowing anything about the EPO scandal.

Several other distressed family members were seen talking to neighbours over a fence.

Athletics Australia chief executive Peter Bromley said the result was “extremely concerning” and came as a surprise.

Camera IconBol won a silver medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games. Credit: Alastair Grant/AP

“There are procedural fairness and investigative consideration that constrain how much we can say, and at this point it would be inappropriate for Athletics Australia or anyone else to speculate about the specific details or pre-empt any outcome,” he said in a statement.

“However what we can say is that learning about this adverse analytical finding was both extremely concerning and completely out of the blue, and we will support Sport Integrity Australia who are leading the investigation into the matter,” Mr Bromley said.

“As a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code and the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, Athletics Australia condemns doping in sport, and we work hard to ensure athletics in Australia is a clean and fair sport for all athletes, including providing anti-doping education in partnership with Sport Integrity Australia.

“We fully support the highly effective testing protocols that exist to ensure that anyone who breaches the anti-doping policy is caught and appropriately sanctioned.

Camera IconPeter Bol is preparing to fight allegations of doping. Credit: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP

“Every athlete, coach and spectator wants and deserves a level playing field.”

Bol’s coach, Justin Rinaldi, posted to Twitter on his business page Fast 8 Track Club, launching a staunch defence of his athlete.

“I can 100% confirm that Pete has NEVER even considered taking a performance enhancing drug, let alone inject himself with one,” the post read.

“We have always been open & transparent in regards to our training and will continue to do so.

“All we can do is trust in the process and be open and honest.”

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