800-meter runner Peter Bol hailed the end of a “nightmare” on Tuesday after a second analysis did not confirm that the Australian, 4th in the Tokyo Olympics on his favorite distance, had taken doping substances.
Bol, born in Sudan, was provisionally suspended when his sample “Atested positive on January 10 for erythropoietin receptor (EPO) agonists. The analysis of his sampleB” however gave a result “atypicalfor this banned substance, Sport Integrity Australia said in a statement. The 28-year-old athlete’s suspension has been lifted, the anti-doping authority said, but warned that its investigation was not complete. The atypical result of the sample “Bis not the same as a negative test, she clarified.
The samples were taken last October out of competition. “The investigation into this matter is continuing. Sport Integrity Australia will consider, as part of its investigation, whether an anti-doping rule violation(s) has occurred“, explained the organization, without revealing”a schedule at this stage“. Bol, a silver medalist at last year’s Commonwealth Games, has denied any wrongdoing since the investigation was opened. “The last month has been nothing short of a nightmare“, he wrote on social networks, adding that he wished his results of the sample “A“have not been”disclosed». «To say it one more time: I am innocent and I did not take this substance as I was accused ofsaid Bol. “I have NEVER purchased, researched, possessed, administered or used synthetic EPO or any other prohibited substance in my life, and I never will.“, he hammered.