'Sit your a** home’ - Noah Lyles faces backlash over controversial COVID diagnosis & 200m bronze

Olympics 100m champion Noah Lyles has faced backlash after slamming Team USA for their handling of his COVID-19 controversy.

Claims by American sprint king Noah Lyles that Team USA’s lack of support during his COVID controversy after the 200m finals in Paris has sparked heated debate across the track and field community.

Lyles, who was a favorite to win the 200m gold at the Olympic Games, has been in the spotlight since his unexpected bronze medal finish in the race, with rumors circulating around his positive COVID diagnosis just before the event.

Despite the diagnosis, Lyles went ahead and raced, leaving many to question why he did not inform the public of his condition sooner.

The controversy exploded when Lyles won the 100m race against Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere 0.005 seconds, building enormous anticipation for the 200m final.

However, his Olympic dreams took a sudden turn when he tested positive for COVID prior to the race.

Although the news wasn’t made public before the race, it quickly spread afterward, stirring up intense speculation.

“Day that we decided that I had tested negative, I took the COVID test, and I knew that people were going to be like, ‘Oh, he didn’t have COVID,’ yada yada yada,” Lyles shared on the Beyond The Records Podcast, featured on Track & Field Gazette’s X profile as shared by Essentially Sports.

Lyles explained that the decision to race despite his diagnosis was a deliberate one, as he did not want to give his competitors any indication that he was not at his best.

The athlete took to social media to post his negative test results after the race, but it wasn’t enough to clear the air.

According to Lyles, it was Team USA’s failure to release an official statement that contributed to the growing suspicion surrounding his condition.

“So I posted my negative test, and I think the real thing that messed up was that Team USA didn’t put out a statement, saying that we tested Noah. He tested positive, and that he didn’t, you know, we made sure that he was in a controlled environment, and we made sure we followed the laws. Like there was no message from that. I’m like, ‘Wow, this is the moment where you guys come to defend your athlete,’” Lyles stated.

Lyles' frustration was not limited to the lack of support from his team as he also addressed the backlash he received from critics, many of whom questioned his integrity and commitment to the sport.

Some fans were vocal about their disbelief, suggesting that Lyles had put others at risk by competing while potentially contagious.

“A hundred percent. Yeah, I was in the club, having fun, celebrating my wins. Oh yeah, I understand it. I understand why they hate think it’s fake because they’re always gonna think it’s fake because one, I’m American, and two, you know, I’m saying that I have this disease and yet I compete better than you can ever imagine,” Lyles responded.

Despite the negative reception, Lyles’ determination to compete and prove himself to the world was unwavering.

“I can’t tell anybody. I don’t wanna give my competition the idea that, you know, they could beat me now because I am sick,” Lyles explained, emphasizing the high stakes of international competition.

However, the controversy surrounding his actions still lingers, with many fans continuing to question his judgment.

One critic remarked, “Sit your a** home boy, you risked the other athletes’ health running that race, also negative or not you should have taken a safer approach if you wanted to be defended by the USATF, not go out and party and give people reasons to come at you.”

Although he insists he was committed to his performance, he recognizes the harsh judgment and criticism that come with the public spotlight.

Despite the doubts surrounding his actions Lyles is determined to continue making his voice heard