The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has expressed concerns regarding an independent arbitrator’s decision to clear American sprinter Erriyon Knighton of a doping offense and is considering an appeal.
WADA also accused U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief Travis Tygart of hypocrisy in the handling of the case.
In March, Knighton, the 200-meter world championship silver medallist, tested positive for the banned metabolite trenbolone during an out-of-competition drug test. Trenbolone is a known livestock growth promoter used legally in beef cattle produced in and exported to the United States.
Skepticism regarding the arbitrator’s findings
An independent arbitrator ruled on Wednesday that the positive test was more likely than not caused by consuming meat contaminated with trenbolone. This decision cleared the 20-year-old athlete to compete in the U.S. Olympic trials which started Friday in Eugene, Oregon.
WADA has expressed skepticism regarding the arbitrator’s findings and is awaiting the full reasoned decision to determine whether to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“Once WADA has the full reasoned decision, it will study that, along with the case file, with its usual skepticism and diligence,” WADA stated. “It will be important, for example, to ascertain how this positive test for trenbolone was caused by meat contamination, which would be extremely rare for that substance.”
Justice was served
USADA chief Travis Tygart announced the Knighton ruling, declaring that “justice was served.” However, WADA questioned how such a claim could be made without having reviewed the fully reasoned decision.
“It is difficult to understand how Travis Tygart can declare with such certainty that ‘justice was served,'” WADA said. “In this case, given USADA had argued that the analytical result was incompatible with meat contamination and had originally sought a sanction of four years against the athlete.”
The controversy continues to unfold as WADA prepares to scrutinize the arbitrator’s decision and determine the next steps in this high-profile doping case.
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