Australian middle-distance runner and Olympic star Peter Bol has failed a drug test.
The 28-year-old returned a positive result in an out-of-competition test in October last year.
Athletics Australia has since provisionally suspended Bol per the governing body’s anti-doping policy, confirming the news in a statement released on Friday afternoon.
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Sport Integrity Australia informed Athletics Australia on January 10 that Bol’s A sample had returned an adverse finding to the performance-enhancing erythropoietin receptor agonists drugs, EPO.
In a statement posted to his personal Instagram account on Friday, Bol maintained his innocence.
“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 wrote.
“I ask that everyone in Australia believe me and let the process play out.
“When I found out last week that the Sample A 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.
“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.”
Bol has voluntarily turned in his laptop, iPad and mobile phone to Sport Integrity Australia to assist in the investigation.
His coach Justin Rinaldi and agent James Templeton have also offered to do the same.
Under the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, Bol is entitled to have his B Sample analysed as evidence.
“I have requested analysis of my B Sample which will take place in February,” Bol said.
“Given the subjective nature of interpreting this kind of test, I have asked that the lab perform a secondary confirmation.”
While provisionally suspended, Bol is not allowed 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 within a sporting organisation.
Bol was recently named Western Australia’s Young Australian of the Year for his athletic achievements and work within the community.
As a result, the national 800m record holder is eligible to be named the Young Australian of the Year next week.
“The National Australia Day Council (NADC) is aware of a potential anti-doping violation involving Young Australian of the Year from Western Australia, Peter Bol,” a spokesperson for the body said in a statement.
“The Australians of the Year will be announced on 25 January 2023.
“To ensure the confidentiality of Australian of the Year deliberations and NADC Board processes, we will provide no further comment.”
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Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley said the positive result was “extremely concerning”.
“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 which is 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.
“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.”
Bol will now miss be unable to take part in the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst on January 23.
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