Peter Bol has been “exonerated” and can now turn his full focus to the upcoming world athletics championships after Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) dropped its anti-doping investigation into the middle-distance star.
It ends a saga dating back to mid-January when the 29-year-old Australian was provisionally suspended after recording an elevated level of synthetic erythropoietin (EPO).
That ban was lifted the following month when his B sample returned an atypical finding meaning it was neither positive nor negative.
SIA continued to look into the matter, despite Bol vehemently claiming his innocence. But that investigation has now concluded, SIA said in a statement on Tuesday.
“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,” said SIA.
“As a result, Sport Integrity Australia has taken the decision not to progress an anti-doping rule violation for this sample. The investigation into this sample is finalised.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency was satisfied that SIA had followed the correct processes in its investigation.
“I have been exonerated,” Bol said in a statement on Tuesday. “It was a false positive like I have said all along. The news from Sport Integrity Australia was a dream come true.
“I am glad that Wada has agreed to review the EPO testing processes to prevent future false positives. No one should ever experience what I have gone through this year.
“My focus is now on the World Athletics Championships coming up in Hungary. I am in good form and feeling well.”
The opening round of the men’s 800m in Budapest is on 21 August.
Australia will be represented in the men’s two-lap race by Bol and his training partner and new national record holder Joseph Deng.
