Peter Bol’s seven months of hell is over, but the witch hunt that targeted him has left its mark

Peter Bol is a national hero, and an ‘overzealous’ government authority tried to taint his image. See the details of how Bol was exonerated and rightly so.

When Peter Bol found out his seven months of hell was over and that he was no longer being investigated for drug cheating, he started to shake.

A three-way phone hook-up late on Monday night in Europe between Bol, his US lawyer Paul Greene and manager James Templeton was how he found out that he‘d been exonerated by Sport Integrity Australia.

“My legs are shaking,” Bol said.

The out-of-competition test from October last year which SIA informed Bol in January contained EPO was now being classed as a false positive.

He wasn‘t a drug cheat, had never been a drug cheat yet Bol knows the damage to his reputation in the eyes of many will remain.

This was a witch hunt from the start by an overzealous government authority who were desperate to land a big fish and they didn‘t come much bigger than Bol who captured the hearts of Australia when he finished fourth in the 800m final at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Peter Bol after winning silver at the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Michael Klein

He was literally days away from being named Young Australian of the Year when news broke about the failed test.

Even when the B-sample came back with an atypical finding in February which meant Bol‘s provisional suspension was lifted and he was able to train and race again, SIA went harder and harder.

Under the WADA code they were obligated to investigate the anomaly despite Bol continually proclaiming his innocence.

At every junction he complied with investigators. When they knocked on the door of his Burnley apartment in January to break the news, he immediately handed over his phone and iPad.

Since then he has supplied five years of bank statements, answered every question the investigators could throw at him which included a 62-page transcript of an interview in May.

He had been tested over a hundred times in his career, had tests from years ago re-examined and even in early June received notification that SIA were retesting another seven samples.

They also zeroed in on his whereabouts data - every athlete is required to lodge their location details at all times for out-of-competition testing - in November last year when he was back in Perth with his family.

According to them there was “suspicious” activity given he‘d moved around more than normal that month - he had bought a house in Perth and was alternating between it and his parents home - compared to previous months.

It was relentless with the latest move, the engagement of a high-priced London-based Kings Counsel to look over the Bol case. This was perceived as the final push to try and nail him but ironically it helped do the opposite.

Bol at the Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel.

The KC reviewed all the evidence and decided enough was enough, SIA had to stop the Bol chase because, in his opinion, there was nothing to find.

SIA drafted a statement which was released early on Tuesday morning, outlining their processes and how they had used different WADA-accredited laboratories and experts to look at the sample.

“The further analysis resulted in varying expert opinions as to the positive or negative reporting of the sample, and the A-sample was reported as negative,” the SIA statement read.

“As a result, Sport Integrity Australia have taken the decision not to progress an anti-doping rule violation for this sample. The investigation into this sample is finalised.”

They added that WADA would now undertake a review of current EPO processes.

That‘s all well and good now but there wasn’t an apology or any form of regret for how they’ve treated Bol, pushing one of Australia’s best athletes to the brink.

Bol gave an insight into that with his post on social media after receiving the news: “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.”

Financially the burden is huge which was why he agreed to take the big cheque on offer to appear on Channel 7‘s reality TV show SAS Australia where ironically he injured himself which delayed his return to the track.

The SIA‘s refusal to close the investigation despite not getting anywhere is what has haunted Bol and it was still there last month when he qualified for the world championships.

That excitement about running in Budapest - the championships start on August 19 - was tempered because he constantly lived in fear of receiving another SIA email with a new curveball.

The whole saga has damaged his relationship with Athletics Australia who he perceived didn‘t back him strongly enough at the beginning although they at least came out punching on Tuesday.

Peter Bol deserved better. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

“The matter has exposed several serious questions about how EPO is analysed by WADA accredited labs,” the AA statement said. ”Athletics Australia would like to express its full support of Peter and also its dismay that an innocent athlete has had his integrity put into question.

“Peter Bol and every other high-performance athlete deserves clear and transparent answers to ensure this doesn’t happen again. We encourage Sport Integrity Australia and WADA to provide those answers.”

The cost to Australian taxpayers can‘t be ignored. When the scandal broke federal sports minister Anika Wells was on the front foot saying all of Bol’s samples would be retested.

Since then she has gone missing, refusing to answer questions about the process which dragged on for months under her watch.

There have been calls from Bol supporters for a senate inquiry into the mess. His own team are staying quiet, they had previously been warned about poking the bear so to speak with many believing their initial public outrage may have inspired the full-court press from investigators.

Bol is currently training in the tiny independent principality of Andorra in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. He can now finally focus with a clear mind on the world championships although the stigma of the previous seven months is never far away.

Last month when he clocked a personal best in the 1500m in Lyon, France, Bol was drug tested the morning of the event … and again that night.