Knighton was cleared by the U.S. Anti-Doping Company earlier than the Olympic trials after testing optimistic for a banned drug Trenbolone, which is commonly present in livestock.
WASHINGTON — The doping case involving U.S. sprinter Erriyon Knighton’s claims of eating contaminated meat is being appealed and will likely be despatched to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport.
The Athletics Integrity Unit, which polices anti-doping on a worldwide stage for monitor and discipline, introduced Wednesday it was interesting the “no-fault” discovering issued by the U.S. Anti-Doping Company earlier than this summer season’s Olympic trials.
Knighton examined optimistic for a banned drug Trenbolone, which is commonly present in livestock and has been linked to various contamination instances over time. Knighton mentioned he ate oxtail from a bakery in central Florida that was contaminated.
After Knighton was cleared by USADA, he certified for the 200 meters at Olympic trials, then completed fourth in Paris. He didn’t compete on the relay groups.
An impartial arbitration panel issued the no-fault determination after reviewing outcomes from assessments performed by USADA from the identical cargo of that meat to the bakery the place Knighton purchased it. The panel concluded the meat might have induced the hint quantity of the drug — an quantity that also leads to a optimistic take a look at — to point out up in Knighton’s system.
The AIU didn’t disclose particulars of why it was interesting the case.
USADA launched an announcement from CEO Travis Tygart explaining its dealing with of the case.
“We perceive the AIU’s causes for interesting this case, as we assume they’re the identical causes for which we charged and prosecuted the case,” Tygart mentioned.
USADA and the World Anti-Doping Company have been sparring over the way contamination cases are handled within the wake of the case involving Chinese language swimmers who have been cleared to maintain competing regardless of testing optimistic for a banned coronary heart treatment.
Chinese language authorities decided the optimistic assessments have been outcomes of contamination, however WADA has been criticized as a result of no public announcement was made and the small print of the case weren’t revealed till reporting by The New York Occasions and German broadcaster ARD uncovered particulars of the case.
