PALOMEQUE Diego

General
BOMBING
He was present at the General Francisco de Paula Santander Police Academy in Bogota, Colombia, when the facility was the target of a car bombing by the National Liberation Army [ELN] in January 2019. 21 people were killed in the attack. "I do not know if it was because of the panic but the only thought I had was to help, and I picked up some of my companions. I took them to the infirmary until I was told not to keep on doing it." (noticas.caracoltv.com, 20 Oct 2019; elnuevosiglo.com.co, 12 Apr 2020; Tono Deportivo YouTube channel, 26 Apr 2020; noticiascoopercom.co, 31 Jul 2019; telemedellin.tv, 11 Apr 2020)

CAREER CHOICE
He began training for a career in the police but decided to focus on athletics in 2019. His late father had been a member of the National Army of Colombia and his brother is a police officer. "I left the police corps because my dream is to run. While I was still in the police, the training cost me a lot. I had to do a lot of things in parallel with the sport." (elnuevosiglo.com.co, 12 Apr 2020; noticiascoopercom.co, 31 Jul 2019)

SANCTION
He tested positive for the prohibited substance testosterone at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, a week before he was due to compete. He was excluded from the Games by the International Olympic Committee [IOC] and banned from the sport for two years by the International Association of Athletics Federations [IAAF]. He was eligible to return to competition in August 2014. (runningcolombia.com, 31 Aug 2014; hsbnoticias.com, 29 Jan 2013; IOC, 12 Aug 2012)