>
Olympic star Peter Bol’s legal team questions the ‘interpretation of lab data’ that saw the runner receive a positive drug test and threatens to destroy his career.
- Olympian Peter Bol’s legal team questions positive drug test
- Lawyer says broker’s positive test result was a ‘margin call’
- Bol is suspended and the result threatens to destroy his career
Australian Olympian Peter Bol’s lawyer has questioned the interpretation of laboratory data that saw the Australian track and field poster boy test positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Bol, who finished fourth in the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics, tested positive for EPO and now faces a nervous wait for his B sample results.
His American lawyer Paul Greene, who has experience representing athletes from around the world, says it was a marginal decision for the Australian to get a positive result in the first place.
Australian Olympian Peter Bol’s lawyer has questioned the interpretation of laboratory data that saw the Australian track and field poster boy test positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Bol, who finished fourth in the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics, tested positive for EPO and now faces a nervous wait for his B sample results.
“EPO occurs naturally in each of us, so it’s not like synthetic EPO has a different chemical makeup than regular EPO,” Greene said.
“It is a density/gel test that seeks to measure the density of one versus the other, but the EPO density of all is not the same, so there is no clear and simple test in all cases.
“So sometimes you’re right on the edge and it would appear from the initial reporting (with Bol) that they had only one band and that would mean it was very close to whether they were going to report this.”
Bol’s American lawyer, Paul Greene (pictured), who has experience representing athletes from around the world, says it was a margin call for the Australian to get a positive result in the first place.
Greene explained that test results similar to Bol’s in the past have not been considered a clear result.
He also said he has seen careers derailed by questionable EPO tests, including those of Norwegian walker Erik Tysse and Irish sprinter Steven Colvert.
“It all comes down to interpretation of the lab data,” Greene said. ‘One scientist may have a completely different view than another.
“I’ve seen careers destroyed with these things and it’s very, very hard, you lose your life, you lose your livelihood.”
Bol has pleaded not guilty and hopes his B sample will come back negative and clear his name.
Greene explained that test results similar to Bol’s (pictured) have not been considered a clear result in the past.
Bol has pleaded not guilty and hopes his B sample will come back negative and clear his name.
“It is of vital importance to transmit with the firmest conviction that I am innocent and that I have not taken this substance as accused,” he posted on Twitter.
“I ask that everyone in Australia believe me and let the process unfold.
“When I found out last week that the A sample from a urine test taken on October 11 had tested positive for synthetic EPO, I was totally shocked.
“To be clear, I have NEVER in my life purchased, researched, possessed, administered or used synthetic EPO or any other Prohibited Substance.”
Bol finished just short of becoming Australia’s first medalist in the 800 m at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth in the final.
Bol finished just short of becoming Australia’s first medalist in the 800 m at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth in the final.
The positive result has shocked the Australian athletic community, as Bol has been a story of inspiration and overcoming adversity since his grand exhibition in Tokyo.
He became a household name when he jumped to the front to lead all riders to victory in the semifinal before narrowly missing out on the bronze medal.
Bol voluntarily surrendered his phone and laptop to investigators, while his trainer Justin Rinaldi and agent James Templeton also offered to surrender their devices.