- Peter Bol has expressed his displeasure with WADA
- He was cleared after a positive drugs test following the Tokyo Games
- A screenshot has brought Bol back into the spotlight
Australian middle-distance runner Peter Bol maintains he has no case to answer following the public release of a potentially damaging screenshot linked to a separate anti-doping investigation.
Bol faced provisional suspension in early 2023 after testing positive for elevated levels of the banned synthetic erythropoietin (EPO).
However, the ban was lifted the next month when a retest of his B sample revealed an atypical result, allowing the Tokyo Olympics finalist to claim full exoneration.
The charges were fully dropped in the months that followed.
The story resurfaced earlier this year when Bol was referenced during a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing regarding alleged EPO usage by Croatian soccer player Mario Vuskovic.
Both athletes are now represented by American attorney Paul Greene.
WADA lawyers stated that Bol’s case did not involve a false positive, but rather a degradation in his sample between the A and B tests.
According to Nine Newspapers, anti-doping authorities indicated at the hearing that they had found a September 2022 screenshot on Bol’s phone containing details about synthetic EPO usage.
Peter Bol has issued an ultimatum to drug testers following his 800m heat in Paris
After finishing seventh in his 800m heat, Bol urged WADA to clarify their stance.
‘I’m not sure when they found that screenshot and where it came from,’ he told reporters.
‘I’ve read numerous articles, and they only selected the one that fit their narrative, which seems like political maneuvering.’
‘If they wanted me banned, they could have done it already; I’m still here competing.’
‘I truly have nothing to defend.’
‘You should be directing your questions at WADA; they need to be accountable for their statements.’
An alleged screenshot has come to light but Bol says he has nothing to answer for
Bol, along with his former training partner Joseph Deng, currently residing in South Africa, is set to compete in the 800m repechage round on Thursday.
‘I let WADA take whatever course of action they choose, and I remain focused on my performance and the aspects I can control,’ said Bol.
‘The key point is that I’m out here racing, and I’m thankful for that.’
30-year-old Bol gained recognition when he broke the Australian 800m record at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth, just half a second shy of a medal.
