Go confident of Obiena’s integrity

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go has voiced his support for acclaimed Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena, amidst doping accusations hurled against the athlete on social media.

“As chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, we will always support and protect the integrity of our Filipino athletes,” Go said in a statement, in defense of Obiena.

Go emphasized the severity of the allegation made by Anais Lavillenie, and said it tarnished the reputation of a “national sports hero who happens to hold the current Asian record in pole vault.”

The controversy started after Lavillenie, wife of 2012 Olympic gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie, insinuated through a social media post, that Obiena used banned substances.

The accusation was made after Thiago Braz, another athlete trained by Obiena’s coach, tested positive for performance-enhancing substances in July.

“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 said in response to the accusation.

Meanwhile, Go focused on the established protocols for addressing doping allegations and said “If there is a need for any national athlete to undergo necessary and official tests from the anti-doping body, there is a process for this which I am sure any elite national team is aware of.”