Team Obiena: Publicly apologize or we'll sue.

ERNEST JOHN 'EJ' OBIENA wants Frenchwoman Anais Poumarat Lavillenie to publicly apologize for her damaging Facebook comment against the world No. 2 pole vaulter.

'And we'll no longer file a case against her,' Jim Lafferty, Obiena's confidante, told BusinessMirror on Tuesday. 'If this simple and valid request is granted, this case shall be closed as far as EJ is concerned.'

Lavillenie-herself a former pole vaulter-is the wife of London 2012 Olympics men's pole vault gold medalist from France, Renaud Lavillenie. She commented in the Facebook page Vaulter Magazine-Vaulter Club Inc. on October 13 that Obiena and his coach, Vitaly Petrov, are doping.

The comment has been deleted but Obiena's team managed to take screenshots.

'EJ has no desire to prolong this debate and to disrupt in any way his Olympic preparation-nor does he wish to disrupt the close-knit dynamics of the pole vault community,' Lafferty said.

'Accountability is important, and a proper apology and retraction is an acceptable form of accountability,' he added.

Lafferty said that Obiena is 'a class act in this situation' but is compelled to respond in a strong manner to protect his reputation.

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