Peter Bol vows to prove himself on the track again after drug controversy

The national record holder steadfastly maintains his innocence, despite being informed by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) on 10 January that he had tested positive to performance-enhancing synthetic EPO.

EPO is a hormone that is produced naturally by the body and stimulates red blood cell production, but can also be taken illegally in a synthetic form.

Bol and his camp remain furious that the news of his initial positive test was leaked, believing the culprit had to be associated with SIA or Athletics Australia.

The news scuppered his hopes of being named the Young Australian of the Year.

Bol shot to prominence at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, twice breaking the 800m national record before finishing a close fourth in the final.