The doping case involving U.S. sprinter Erriyon Knighton's claims of eating contaminated meat is currently under appeal and will be reviewed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Athletics Integrity Unit, responsible for overseeing anti-doping measures in track and field globally, has decided to challenge the 'no-fault' ruling issued by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency prior to the Olympic trials earlier this year.
Knighton had tested positive for the banned substance Trenbolone, a drug commonly found in livestock and associated with various contamination incidents in the past. Knighton maintained that he consumed oxtail from a bakery in central Florida that was contaminated with the substance.
Following his clearance by USADA, Knighton went on to qualify for the 200 meters event at the Olympic trials, ultimately finishing fourth in Paris. However, he did not participate in the relay teams.
An independent arbitration panel reviewed the test results conducted by USADA on the same batch of meat purchased by Knighton from the bakery. The panel concluded that the contaminated meat could have led to the detection of a trace amount of the drug in Knighton's system, resulting in a positive test.
The Athletics Integrity Unit has not disclosed specific reasons for appealing the case, while USADA's CEO Travis Tygart explained the organization's decision-making process in handling the matter.
Controversy surrounding the handling of contamination cases has been ongoing between USADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and various national authorities. This dispute was further highlighted by a recent case involving Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned heart medication but were allowed to continue competing after authorities attributed the results to contamination.
WADA faced criticism for its handling of the Chinese swimmers' case, with concerns raised about the lack of public disclosure and transparency. The details of the incident only came to light following investigative reporting by The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD.
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