Did they ever decide if the 'bacteria' found in the Martian rock was really a fossil of life or not?

They decided that the evidence was inconclusive - it was possible that it was, but it turned out that it was possible that the sample could have been contaminated or compromised at some stage, or that geological or mineral activity could conceivably have created the same features seen - it seems probable that this is the case.


So they can't ever decide whether the rock is actually a fossil of Martian life, but they are absolutely certain that it is not PROOF of Martian life - a disappointing but rigorously scientific conclusion.