Erriyon Knighton- AIU files appeal with CAS!

I’ve read enough…

Asinga is clean

After seeing the times the past couple years (both in college and, more worryingly, high school) I wouldn't be shocked if doping has spread to those corners as well.

I'm not even talking about where I already sort of expect to see it - if you told me some high level AAU basketball or some Texas HS football powerhouses, some SEC sprinters, and the occasional throwing powerhouse; think the events where power is the most important - are using certain 'supplements' (steroids) to recover and build muscle / power. Some sprinting (no suspicious progeression or affiliations I know of - but 44.20 at 16 does throw up some red flags by sheer virtue of the time itself, but no more than any other phenoms) performances and distance too: the spikes don't help as much when you're faster, but the sheer quantity of 8:40 performances and even faster, especially when accompanied by big progressions in other events (10+ second drops in the mile) makes me wonder a bit. Same with the sub 13:10 college performances. The 13:07 Ugandan was banned and I'm sure there are other NCAA runners who dope, especially the top ones.

And now the incentives are even greater since athletes can be compensated in college / HS, why wouldn't doping have increased?

The “arbitrator” in this case…

That’s all you need to know.

Junk.

What is USADA supposed to do? They followed protocol. Knighton had the right to arbitration. Then they presented all the evidence they had. USADA tested the source of the meat and argued it was too low to produce the levels Knighton tested positive for. They also pushed back against previous rulings where athletes were let off and urged the arbitrator not to rely on those. Unless they had a secret witness with a video tape of Knighton taking tren, what other evidence is there?

And what could USADA do afterwards? Claim the arbitrator was wrong and their system is broken? Lol, you can’t do that (unless it’s a presidential election of course). USADA submitted to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator, per protocol, and that means they have to accept the results in good faith. This is what Tygart said, “We did what the rules require us to do in all positive cases,” USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a press release. “We can take comfort that justice was served and transparency as required by the rules was achieved.”

Essentially he’s just saying “we followed the protocol and accept the results according to rules”. Yeah, it sounds a little politically correct, but that’s kind of his job. We’re also used to politicians and the media suggesting we shouldn’t trust any type of system.. so in a way it’s kind of refreshing someone just said, “yeah, okay, I didn’t get the result I initially felt was correct, but I’ll take comfort knowing that we followed our system because I believe that our system is usually fair and leads to justice”.

They should have appealed (if possible? Salazar appealed the arbitrators' decision...), as - according to their own claims - justice was not served. Essentially, he should at best have said what you said he said essentially, but did not.

See also Tygart's newest statement, which reads like from Knighton's lawyer:

usada.org

Statement by Travis T. Tygart in Response to Appeal of Erriyon Knighton Case

Hailey Horwath

The handling of this case by USADA in accordance with the rules is in stark contrast to how China and WADA handled the 23 TMZ positives.

Link:www.usada.org/statement/response-appea...

"Trenbolone, the substance in Knighton’s case, is a known livestock enhancer and known to be found in the meat supply. The level in the athlete’s sample was below 1ng/ml, and the meat he ate was proven to be from the same supplier of meat at the restaurant that was later analyzed and tested positive for trenbolone."

No mentioning anymore of USADA's earlier claim that the amounts found were inconsistent with the contamination claim.

And from the decision, USADA's own expert is quoted with:

"Dr. Dalton concluded in his report that Respondent either consumed: (1) a meal of considerably higher concentration (~38 ng/g) of free trenbolone on March 22-23, (2) a separate dose of free trenbolone of over 19,000 nanograms on March 22-23, or (3) a larger dose of about 100 mg trenbolone acetate on or about March 11"

And USADA themselves:

"Second, the amount of the detected trenbolone did not correlate to the science
regarding metabolism in humans. Claimant urges that Respondent’s consumption of oxtail so long before sample collection does not account for the concentration of epitrenbolone in his sample."

And now comes Tygart, and pretends it's from the oxtail after all. Too funny.

I keep saying that trenbolone is a very weird and unlikely choice for a sprinter. It is highly anabolic, and the user can count on putting on a great deal of muscle very quickly. The sort of weight gain that would cause problems for a sprinter who needs to keep his or her weight low for maximum power to weight ratio.

I keep saying that trenbolone is a very weird and unlikely choice for a sprinter. It is highly anabolic, and the user can count on putting on a great deal of muscle very quickly. The sort of weight gain that would cause problems for a sprinter who needs to keep his or her weight low for maximum power to weight ratio.

in addition, trenbolone has an awful reputation among bodybuilders for prompting very weird and dimly understood psychological and emotional pathologies. Users have reported everything from severe paranoia, fits of rage, and bizarre sexual behavior.

If Knighton wanted to dope, there are much better choices. I find it hard to believe that he would choose trenbolone, out of all the potential options available to a professional athlete.

At least with Kenya, the AIU knows ADAK, AK and the government are on their side.

Are you a professional sprinter? Do you know the doses, and combinations it is used in conjunction with other substances? If your answer is no, then what you think is nice to know but irrelevant.

I think USADA got the outcome they wanted from the "independent" panel not the outcome Knighton deserved.

I mean, the dude straight up tested positive for tren and USADA and Tygart just let him off. All the while, Tygart claims WADA is corrupt LOL

I don’t wanna sound spiteful but if he can easily get away with this then every rising star is going easily (especially from the US) is going to be dining on oxtails

So when's this case supposed to be heard by CAS?

Still showing as pending on the AIU's appeals page but not yet showing in CAS' list of hearings. Hope they're not gonna dilly dally for too much longer.

The case was heard three weeks ago. Surely it won't be long until the decision is published.

I agree it's probably very common in top HS athletes because of the Internet suppliers and how-to advice. Even back in the 90's when I was in high school our football team has one of the best in the state. One of my friends was on the team, and at a dinner someone briefly mentioned steroids. My friend said "You don't wanna know what some of those guys are doing." And the conversation quickly changed subjects.

He scratched from world relays, the week before his case was supposed to be heard. That can't be a good sign.

Was thinking the same at the time but he's racing in Rabat this weekend.

Okay, I didn't notice he's pulled out of Rabat.