Case closed: Obiena doping accuser says sorry

MANILA, Philippines -- The wife of the Olympic gold medalist who accused Asian Games gold medalist pole vaulter EJ Obiena of doping has apologized.

Obiena posted the apology letter of Anais Lavillenie, wife of former Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie, on his official Facebook account Thursday night.

The letter showed Lavillenie's apology for “writing untruthful words” on Vaulter Magazine’s Facebook post about Obiena and his coach Vitaly Petrov.

“I made a stupid amalgam that I should never have done and writer, I admit, and that’s why I deleted the comment after the fact but the damage was done. I am sincerely sorry,” the letter read.

“I am aware that I have disrespected you and your coach and I deeply regret my act. Thank you for understanding my apologies for my unacceptable behavior. Good luck for you[r] training,” it added.

Obiena, the world’s No. 2 pole vaulter, said that Lavillenie’s apology proves that he is a clean athlete.

And, with the apology, the matter is closed, the Asiad gold medalist stressed.

“I have no desire to disrupt my Paris Olympics preparation in pursuing a legal case. I also would like to keep the close-knit nature of the elite pole vault community and have no desire to disrupt these dynamics. So, I am prepared to accept a full and complete apology and move on. This is what I believe the bigger person would do,” he said.

“I received today the attached apology letter from Anais Lavillenie. I accept this. She admits she was wrong and she admits what she did was wrong. This fact, alongside all other facts makes it clear. I am a 100% CLEAN ATHLETE,” he added.

Obiena also urged everyone not to message Lavillenie and her husband on Facebook.

Lavillenie’s now-deleted comment stated that Obiena, like fellow pole vaulter Thiago Braz, is doping.

Braz, who was also coached by Petrov, was suspended in July of this year.
“Obiena doped and it’ll fail like Braz…Same Coach. Same Plan. Same Objective!” Lavillenie commented.

The Filipino pole vaulter is eyeing to finally win his coveted Olympic gold medal next year in Paris off of a successful season.

But standing in his way is rival and World No. 1 Armand Duplantis of Sweden.