Peter Bol: WA Olympian exonerated after Sport Integrity Australia drops investigation

WA Olympian Peter Bol has been acquitted of drug doping after the body investigating a positive EPO sample he returned confirmed it would drop its probe after his sample proved to be a false positive.

In January 2023, the 28-year-old was informed that he returned a positive finding for synthetic EPO in his A-sample — a performance-enhancing peptide — and was suspended from athletics.

Bol, who proclaimed his innocence from the outset, took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to say, ”No one should have to go through what he has been through” after analysis of his B-sample was “atypical” and did not match his A-sample.

“Good morning, Australia. I have been exonerated,” he wrote.

“It was a false positive, like I have said all along!

“The news from Sport Integrity Australia today was a dream come true.”

In a statement, Sport Integrity Australia said it had “taken the decision not to progress an anti-doping rule violation” and that “the investigation into this sample is finalised”.

“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,” it said.

“As a result, Sport Integrity Australia has decided not to progress an anti-doping rule violation for this sample. The investigation into this sample is finalised.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency will review current EPO processes, reassuring athletes to “have confidence” in the anti-doping system.

“Athletes in Australia should have confidence in the anti-doping system that has allowed Sport Integrity Australia to conduct a thorough investigation,” WADA said.

“A review and strengthening of the EPO review process by WADA is an indication of good governance structures in place.”

Sport Integrity Australia will now await the outcomes of the WADA review of the EPO review process.

Bol said he was “glad” that WADA agreed to review the EPO testing process and that his focus was now on the World Athletics Championships.