Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 16) — Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena is set to take a polygraph test to prove his innoncence after he was accused of doping on social media recently.
Anais Lavillenie, wife of former world record holder and 2012 Olympics gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie of France, commented in a Facebook post by Vaulter Magazine – Vaulter Club Inc. that Obiena used banned substances and even mentioned another pole vaulter in Thiago Braz of Brazil.
“Obiena doped and it’ll fall like Braz. Same coach, same plan, same objective,” she wrote.
Anais accused Obiena of doping after Braz was suspended for testing positive in July. Both Obiena and Braz are trained by Vitaly Petrov, the “same coach” referred to in the comment section.
Anais did not respond when asked if she is accusing Obiena of using performance enhancing drugs.
Obiena posted a screenshot of the comments on his public Facebook account.
“I want to remain classy and dignified on this subject. All I will say is I am disappointed, angry and feel wronged by these statements,” Obiena wrote.
Obiena has been in a steady rise as he is now second in the pole vault world rankings behind Mondo Duplantis of Sweden. He became a member of the exclusive six-meter club in pole vault this year and won gold in the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.
James Michael Lafferty, Obiena’s mentor and advisor, said they will be releasing the test result for transparency and to strengthen their case.
“While he’s here in Dubai, we’re doing a polygraph this week that we will then publish,” he told CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk Monday. “We’re going to release the information just to bolster the case.”
“He has never even thought about it (doping) let alone be close to it. Our only worry in all of this is he watches that nobody spikes his any of his food and drink,” he added.
Lafferty stressed that Anais’ action was unfortunate because it was not backed up with proof.
“Making guilt by association is a very reckless and irresponsible thing to do,” he said.
