At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena surprised with second place behind high-flyer and world record holder Armand Duplantis. But now serious doping allegations are being made against the Filipino.
With his jump over the magical six-meter mark at the World Championships, Obiena not only secured the silver medal but also broke the Asian record. But his success is now overshadowed by doping allegations.
Anais Lavillenie, wife of French pole vault star Renaud Lavillenie, accused Obiena of doping on social media. The reason for this is the collaboration with his trainer Vitaly Petrov.
Obiena trainer works with doping offenders
The Russian also works with Thiago Braz. Together they won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games.
But this summer the Brazilian was suspended on suspicion of doping. The 29-year-old is accused of taking an anabolic steroid. If the suspicion is confirmed, Braz faces a four-year ban.
“Obiena is doped and will fall just like Braz. Same coach, same plan, same goal,” wrote Anais Lavillenie on Facebook.
Accusations that Obiena doesn’t want to accept. “I’m just saying that I’m disappointed and angry and feel unfairly treated,” he also reacted on Facebook: “My team is exploring different ways to attack this. I guess that’s the price you have to pay if you win .
His advisor James Michael Lafferty also emphasized on “CNN”: “He never even considered the idea of doping himself. To assume that someone is guilty because of their connection to Braz is reckless and irresponsible.”
In order to clear his name, Obiena wants to undergo a lie detector test.