Negative test results prove Obiena's innocence vs former Olympiad champion's wife's doping claims

Ernest John "EJ" Obiena faced the doping accusations blurted by a former Olympic champion's wife head-on by undergoing a couple of lie detector tests.

In a virtual press conference he personally sought on Thursday, October 19, Obiena successfully passed two separate lie detector tests to disprove Anais Lavillenie's statement on social media.

He refuted the claim by passing the conventional polygraph method and a new test claimed to be more accurate, the EyeDetect.

Asked if he doped and participated in match-fixing, the reigning Asian Games champion tested negative in both tests.

READ: Obiena resets Asian Games record for PH's first gold

"Unfortunately, once a question is raised, it is difficult to erase the stain completely. This compilation of evidence proves the allegations raised by Ms. Lavillenie are unfounded," said Obiena's camp in a statement.

"This data is shared freely with the public in the spirit of complete transparency. It will also be used as supporting evidence should any legal action be forthcoming."

The first-ever Filipino silver medalist in the World Athletic Championship, in fact, already cleared 34 drug tests the World Anti-Doping Agency conducted, with 11 of those this 2023.

Lavillenie, the wife of former world record holder and 2012 London Olympics men's pole vault champion Renaud Lavillenie, said in a now-deleted comment on Vaulter Magazine's Facebook page that the current second-ranked pole vaulter will suffer the same fate as Brazilian Thiago Braz.

"Obiena doped and it'll fall like Braz. Same coach, same plan, same objective," Anais commented.

Braz defeated Renauld in the 2016 Rio Olympics for the crown before getting suspended provisionally this year due to doping.

Obiena's coach Vitaly Petrov previously coached Braz before the latter parted ways with him.

Obiena told reporters at the online press conference held in Dubai, alongside his mentor Petrov, financial backer James Lafferty, and polygraph expert Hester du Plessis, how pissed he was with the allegations by Renauld's spouse that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

"I think I've been very clear. I am pissed off [from] this. When I first read this, I was like, 'Where did this come from?' I had not talked to this woman," Obiena, who ended the outdoor season with 14 podium finishes in 15 competitions, stated.

"I have not interacted with her. For her to say this out in public, against me, my team, and my coach, makes me fume," Obiena added.

"I mean, I'm clean. I've done everything I can to do my best, to get to where I'm at now, and to say I took a shortcut, all that work was because of doping, then of course, I'm pissed."

On Sunday, October 15, Obiena cried foul after learning Anais' comment.

"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. I will let the story evolve while my team explores the many angles including legal. I guess this is part of the price you pay when you win." he took on social media.

His camp is currently mulling legal action on whether to file cases against Anais or her husband, Renauld.

Agitated by this development, Obiena was "more motivated", Lafferty claimed.

"In some respects, this was a big mistake made on many, many levels because now he's even more motivated," Lafferty said. "Right now, he's pissed off on a different level."