Bong Go dares accuser to show proof of her allegations vs EJ Obiena
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, October 17 challenged Anais Lavillenie, wife of 2012 Olympic men's pole vault gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie, to substantiate her claims against Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena instead of taking her rants and accusations on social media.
Go made the call after Lavillenie posted her accusations in the comments section of Vaulter Magazine-Vaulter Club Inc. on Facebook, saying Obiena is using performance-enhancing drugs (PED. The comment has been deleted.
“As chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, we will always support and protect the integrity of our Filipino athletes. We take very seriously the allegation made by Anais Lavillenie, wife of a French pole vaulter, against EJ Obiena purporting that Obiena used performance enhancing substance,” Go said in a statement.
“This is a serious allegation against our national sports hero who happens to hold the current Asian record in pole vault,” added the senator.
Go pointed out that Obiena, currently the world’s No. 2 pole vaulter, has already made huge contributions, not just to Philippine sports, but to the world.
“I am sure that Obiena is a professional world-class athlete who is expected to abide by world sports standards and policies,” he pointed out.
“I, therefore, urge the one who makes such claim to substantiate it and not resort to ruining someone’s reputation on social media,” he reiterated.
“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,” he added.
Go said the sports community should not tolerate such baseless accusations: “After all, professionalism is part of sportsmanship.”
“Nanalo lang, pinagbintangan na agad. Baka inggit lang siguro. Walang gamot sa inggit (He just won, and they accused him immediately. Maybe it's just envy. There is no cure for envy),” the lawmaker pointed out.