Australian Olympic middle-distance runner Peter Bol tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug.
Athletics Australia said Friday that Bol, who was fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, failed an out-of-competition test on Oct. 11. The 28-year-old tested positive to the banned drug erythropoietin, known as EPO.
“I am innocent and have not taken this substance as I am accused,” Bol said on Twitter.
Bol said his career hinged on the result of a B sample from the October test which would be known next month.
Athletics Australia provisionally suspended Bol from formal training and competition at any level, the organization’s chief executive Peter Bromley said.
“There are procedural fairness and investigative considerations . . . at this point it would be inappropriate for Athletics Australia or anyone else to speculate about the specific details or pre-empt any outcome,” Bromley said in a statement.
Bol, who emigrated to Australia from Sudan with his family when he was 8 years old, competed at the last two Olympics, plus placed seventh at last year’s world championships.
OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!
