AIU Appeals Decision Clearing US Sprinter Erriyon Knighton Over Doping Offence

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has launched an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after rising USA sprint star Erriyon Knighton was cleared of a doping violation that initially put his Paris 2024 Olympic participation in jeopardy.

Knighton, 20, tested positive for trenbolone, a banned anabolic steroid used to promote muscle growth, during a routine drug test in March 2024. Despite the severity of the substance, the young sprinter avoided a ban after an independent arbitrator ruled that the positive test was likely caused by the consumption of contaminated meat.

The decision allowed Knighton to compete at the Paris Olympics, where the 200m world silver medallist finished fourth in the men’s 200m final. However, the AIU’s appeal challenges the ruling, arguing that the arbitrator’s finding of "no fault or negligence" was insufficient under anti-doping regulations.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the AIU said, "This appeal is against the decision of an arbitration tribunal in the United States that the athlete established no fault or negligence." The outcome of the appeal could have significant implications for Knighton's career and the integrity of anti-doping protocols.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) acknowledged the AIU’s decision to appeal but defended the original ruling. USADA CEO Travis Tygart pointed to what he described as a "bad rule" set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) concerning contaminated meat, noting that trenbolone is a common livestock growth enhancer and has been detected in the global meat supply chain.

"Trenbolone, the substance in Knighton’s case, is a known livestock enhancer and known to be found in the meat supply," Tygart stated. His comments add to the ongoing tension between USADA and WADA, with the two bodies frequently clashing over the handling of doping cases.

The dispute echoes a broader controversy in recent years. In June, WADA criticized USADA’s stance, suggesting Tygart’s position on contaminated meat would have differed had the athlete involved been from a nation like China. The comment referenced a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who were cleared after testing positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in 2021, with 11 of them competing in Paris after the ruling.

As the CAS appeal process unfolds, the spotlight remains on Knighton, a prodigy once hailed as the future of American sprinting. The final decision could set a precedent for how cases of potential accidental contamination are handled in the future, underscoring the delicate balance between athlete rights and maintaining the credibility of anti-doping regulations.