Experts predict ‘potentially massive’ global impact of Peter Bol doping case

Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) and the government laboratory accused of botching Peter Bol’s anti-doping sample are staying silent as pressure builds and experts underscore the “potentially massive” global ramifications of the Olympian’s case.

Tokyo 2020 star and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bol tested positive for synthetic erythropoietin (EPO), a performance-enhancing drug, in January. But last month his B-sample returned an atypical finding, allowing Bol to return to competition as SIA’s investigation continues.

On Wednesday, details of two independent scientific reports commissioned by Bol’s lawyers became public. Both reports found no evidence of synthetic EPO in Bol’s samples and raised questions about the testing methods used in his case.

EPO is a naturally occurring hormone, but a synthetic equivalent can aid performance and improve recovery. In a letter providing the reports to SIA, Bol’s lawyer Peter Greene described the body as “completely wrong” and called on it to end the investigation and admit its mistake.

SIA and the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory (ASDTL), a government body which provides testing for SIA, stayed silent on Wednesday, refusing to respond to Greene’s allegations. SIA and ASDTL declined multiple requests for comment.

“The Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory carries out testing on behalf of Sport Integrity Australia,” the ASDTL said. “It would not be appropriate to comment on an operational matter of Sport Integrity Australia.”

Bol’s agent, James Templeton, hit out at SIA, telling Guardian Australia he was disappointed it had not yet dropped the investigation and cleared the athlete’s name. “SIA are being disingenuous in stating that they are still investigating,” he