By Michael Gleeson
Australian Olympic hero Peter Bol has spoken out after being provisionally suspended following a failed test for performance-enhancing drugs.
The 800-metre national record holder has strongly proclaimed his innocence after failing an out of competition test for EPO. He has been provisionally banned from January 10.
Australia’s Peter Bol in action at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.Credit: Getty Images
Bol said he was in “total shock” after being told that a urine sample had returned a positive test for EPO.
“To be clear, I have NEVER (his emphasis) purchased, researched, possessed, administered, or used synthetic EPO or any other prohibited substance,” Bol said in a statement released on his social media channels.
He said he had asked for his B sample to be tested for a secondary confirmation.
“Above all I hope that the process will exonerate me,” he said. “My career, hopes and dreams are literally hanging in the balance over these next few weeks. I request everyone respect my privacy as I remain provisionally suspended.”
At the Tokyo Olympics, Bol came fourth in an outstanding run in the 800-metre final, missing out on the bronze medal by 0.5 seconds. He had won his semi-final in a personal-best time. Last year he won silver in the 800m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Bol is the West Australian nominee for Young Australian of the Year, which is to be announced next week.
Athletics Australia on Friday confirmed Bol had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) an out-of-competition doping control test on October 11 last year.
Sport Integrity Australia informed Athletics Australia on Tuesday, January 10 that the A Sample had returned an AAF for Erythropoietin Receptor Agonists (ERA): rEPO (rEPO).
AA said Bol would be unable to train at a national, state or club level, compete at any level, coach, receive funding, use official or member facilities or hold a position with a sporting organisation.
Bol can now have a second sample, the B sample, analysed to reconfirm the A sample result.
AA chief executive Peter Bromley said the positive A sample was “extremely concerning and out of the blue”.
“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,” Bromley said.
“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.
“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.
“Every athlete, coach and spectator wants and deserves a level playing field.
“We appreciate the efforts of Sport Integrity Australia to conduct an extensive regime of testing during and out of competition to ensure our sport is fair and equitable at all times.
“Our primary consideration right now is that the appropriate process is followed and that it is not undermined by inappropriate speculation.
“The welfare of our athletes remains critical through this process, and we will continue to do all that is appropriate to ensure both Peter and other athletes, coaches and support staff are provided with the necessary support.”
“My career, hopes and dreams are literally hanging in the balance over these next few weeks”
Peter Bol
As per the National Anti-Doping Policy, Athletics Australia can only announce a potential Anti Doping Rule Violation if they have Sport Integrity Australia’s approval. That approval was provided this afternoon.
Bol is the first Australian athlete to be banned for a doping violation since Josh Ross and Jarrod Bannister, both of whom failed whereabouts tests but never returned positive drug samples. Athletes are required to log their whereabouts with drug testing bodies and, if on three separate occasions drug testers arrive to perform a test and the athlete is not present, the athlete will be banned under WADA the testing rules.
In 2016 race walker South Australian Kim Mottram returned a positive test. Mottram had not yet represented Australia but was poised to do so when he failed a test.
Sprinter Dean Capobianco, who competed in the 200m at the 1993 world championships, was banned for four years, later reduced to two, after being found guilty in 1996 of taking anabolic steroids. He represented Australia at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.
Gael Martin, who won Olympic bronze in the shot put in 1984, was banned for steriod use.
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