EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Sprinter Elyon Knighton tested positive for a banned substance after an arbitration panel determined it came from tainted meat, keeping the 200-meter specialist eligible to compete in the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials.
The 20-year-old Florida athlete, who holds the under-18 and under-20 records in the 200 meters, tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug trenbolone during an out-of-competition test in March, according to details released by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday.
The arbitration panel cleared Knighton to compete in the 200 metres from June 27, but the decision can be appealed by the Athletics Integrity Unit, which monitors doping in athletics, or the World Anti-Doping Agency.
“As always, WADA will review this matter and reserves the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary,” WADA spokesman James Fitzgerald said.
The AIU did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.
“In every case where a positive test has occurred, we have done what is required by the rules,” USADA CEO Travis Tygart said, “and can rest assured that justice has been served and transparency has been achieved, as required by the rules.”
Tygart said the tainted meat came from oxtail meat at a bakery in central Florida. A USADA investigation, which included sourcing and testing of the meat and interviews with the bakery manager, Knighton, his boyfriend and his mother, substantiated the sprinter's allegation of contamination.
Knighton Competing in the 2021 Tokyo OlympicsKnighton became the youngest man to make the U.S. Olympic team since Jim Ryun in 1964. He placed fourth in the 200 meters behind Andre de Grasse, Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles. Knighton placed second to Lyles at last year's world championships.
Contamination cases like Knighton's are not unheard of, but they have recently come under increased scrutiny in the wake of incidents such as the following: 23 Chinese swimmers The positive test for a banned cardiac medication was determined to have been due to contamination.
WADA accepted the Chinese authorities' explanation and did not pursue the case, but it was made public by reports in the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD. others Because the initial positive test results were not made public.
Part of WADA's argument was to point to cases of contamination in the United States. Dog medicine — doesn't necessarily lead to sanctions. USADA maintains it followed the rules in all cases, including publicly announcing violations, even if they didn't result in penalties.
Perhaps the most controversial contamination case in the United States involved long-distance runners. Shelby HoulihanShe was suspended ahead of the 2021 Olympic Trials, despite claiming her positive test was the result of buying a burrito containing meat laced with nandrolone.
Houlihan is currently serving a four-year suspension that runs until next year.
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