US sprinter Erriyon Knighton will not be serving a doping ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance due to consumption of contaminated meat.
United States sprinter Erriyon Knighton, 20, has been given the green light to compete at the Paris Olympics following a close call with a doping ban.
Knighton, who had been provisionally suspended in April after testing positive for a metabolite of trenbolone in March, was exonerated by an independent arbitrator who concluded that the substance likely entered his system through contaminated meat.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that despite the positive test, Knighton was not at fault. USADA chief executive Travis Tygart stated, "justice was served," emphasising the athlete's lack of negligence.
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"After the hearing, the arbitrator determined that Knighton’s positive test was more likely than not caused by consuming meat contaminated with trenbolone, which is a known livestock growth promoter that is used legally in beef cattle produced in and exported to the United States,” said USADA in its ruling.
“Knighton tested positive despite any fault or negligence, so he will not face a period of ineligibility. Since the sample was collected out-of-competition, there are no competitive results to disqualify. As required under the rules, Knighton was provisionally suspended on April 12, 2024, and following this legal proceeding, his provisional suspension has been lifted effective immediately and he is rightfully allowed to compete following this legal process.
“Both WADA and the Athletics Integrity Unit exercised their right under the rules to observe the evidentiary hearing and both have a right to appeal the arbitrator’s decision."
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Trenbolone, a livestock growth promoter, is legally used in beef cattle in the United States. This ruling comes just before the US track and field Olympic trials, which are set to begin on Friday June 21 in Oregon.
Knighton made headlines in 2021 as the youngest male since Jim Ryun in 1964 to qualify for the US Olympic team. At 17, he finished fourth in the 200m final at the Tokyo Games.
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