Peter Bol misses 800m semi-finals at World Athletics Championships

In his first race since being cleared of doping, Aussie Olympic hero Peter Bol struggled badly as his nightmare year continued.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 22: Peter Bol of Team Australia reacts after the Men's 800m Heats during day four of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 22, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Peter Bol’s year from hell has continued as he fell short of progressing out of the heats of his pet event at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Bol finished fourth in his heat in a time of 1 minute, 46.75 seconds. It was well outside his personal best and not quite enough to qualify for the semi-finals.

Fellow Australian and training partner Joseph Deng was third in his heat to automatically qualify for the semis in a time of 1:45.48.

Usually one to take it out hard and lead a race, Bol looked out of sorts as he got caught in the pack and battled down the home straight.

The disappointing result was hardly surprising given Bol’s preparation for the major athletics meet of the year was thrown into disarray went he had to clear his name after being suspended from training and competition for failing a drug test.

Earlier this month, Bol was officially exonerated after Sport Integrity Australia declared it would not progress with an anti-doping rule violation and closed its investigation into his false positive for synthetic EPO.

Peter Bol struggled in his return from a doping ban. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

In January, the 28-year-old was shocked to learn he had returned a positive finding for EPO and was suspended from athletics, throwing his life into chaos.

Bol proclaimed his innocence and a subsequent independent analysis of his B sample returned an atypical finding or a false positive.

Sport Integrity Australia continued to investigate Bol, however, retesting samples before ultimately on Tuesday deciding to close his case, freeing him to compete unfettered a year out from the Paris Olympics.

Bol posted on social media: “I have been exonerated. It was a false positive like I have said all along! The news from Sport Integrity Australia today was a dream come true.

“I am glad that WADA has agreed to review the EPO testing process to prevent future false positives. No one should ever experience what I’ve gone through this year.

“My focus now is the world athletics championships coming up in Hungary. I am in good form and feeling well.”

Bol finished fourth in the 800m final at the Tokyo Olympics and claimed bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Aussie Joe Deng is into the 800m semifinals. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Hurdler Michelle Jenneke is in strong form. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Australia has sent a strong team to Budapest but is still searching for its first medal of the world championships.

Matt Denny finished a frustrating fourth in the discus, setting a new national record with a personal best throw.

Brandon Starc finished eighth in the men’s high jump, while hurdler Michelle Jenneke qualified for the semi-finals of the 100m hurdles as she enjoys a career resurgence.

Australia’s best medal chances will likely come in the women’s field events, with Nina Kennedy (pole vault), Kelsey-Lee Barber (javelin) and high jump duo Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson.