Olympic 200m finalist facing further doping investigation

American sprinter Erriyon Knighton faced a challenging journey leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympics Games after testing positive on March 26 for a metabolite of trenbolone during an out-of-competition drug test. Initially granted a no-fault violation in June by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Knighton was allowed to compete at the U.S. Trials and the Paris 2024 Olympics in the men’s 200m. Now, Knighton faces another investigation into his case by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which has launched an appeal on USADA’s ruling to the Court Of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), despite the earlier clearance.

The AIU has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case relating to Erriyon Knighton (USA). pic.twitter.com/Drepr3OAAj

— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) August 14, 2024

The USADA’s previous ruling said that Knighton was not required to serve any period of ineligibility after testing positive for a trenbolone metabolite. An arbitrator determined that his positive test was likely caused by consuming meat contaminated with trenbolone, which is a known livestock growth promoter used legally in beef cattle produced in and exported to the U.S., concluding that Knighton had no significant fault or negligence regarding the presence of trenbolone in his system.

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Trenbolone is a non-specified substance in the category of anabolic agents and similar to testosterone, both of which are prohibited under World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. Trenbolone builds muscle and rapidly strips fat, but it also comes with a litany of adverse side effects.

The AIU notified Knighton and USADA of the appeal to the CAS on Aug. 8, which coincided with the men’s 200m final at the Paris Olympics, where he placed fourth behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and his two American compatriots, Kenneth Bednarek and Noah Lyles. Knighton also finished fourth in the men’s 200m in Tokyo 2020, when he was 17.

Knighton has been one of the best 200m sprinters in the world over the past four years. The 20-year-old was not able to compete in 2024 (before the Olympic Trials) after the U.S. Anti-Doping-Agency (USADA) handed down a provisional doping sentence on April 12. Knighton holds the U18 and U20 world record in the men’s 200m, having run 19.69 seconds at the 2022 U.S. Track and Field Championships. At only 20, he is a two-time world championship medallist in the event. He also holds the fifth-fastest 200m time in history at 19.49 seconds.