Erriyon Knighton Cleared by USADA After Provisional Suspension for Trenbolone (Tainted Meat Deemed Likely)

Erriyon Knighton had not competed at all since the Florida Relays on March 30 and now we know why: he tested positive for trenbolone on March 26 and had been provisionally suspended since April 12. That is the same substance Jarrion Lawson tested positive for back in 2018.

Knighton claimed the positive test was due to consuming contaminated meat. Sometimes when that happens, USADA will clear the athlete, but this time it took the case to an independent arbitrator. That hearing was held on Friday and Sunday and today the arbitrator issued her decision and cleared Knighton. So he is immediately eligible to compete again.

This story may not be over though, because WADA and the AIU both have the right to appeal the decision. It could wind up in CAS, but for now Knighton can run.

usada.org

Independent Arbitrator Concludes No Fault Violation Appropriate for Track & Field Athlete Erriyon Knighton

Averi Walker

An independent arbitrator has concluded that Erriyon Knighton should receive a no fault violation after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

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This is great news! Thankfully he wasn’t injured and is able to compete at Trials. A bit worried that he hasn’t been able to race, but hopefully he can still snag top 3 and be race-ready come Paris. Lyles, Bednarek, and Lindsey aren’t going to make it easy for him, though.

Track is a full-on clown show. Always some bs excuse, like when a schoolchild gets in trouble.

I'll be watching swimming trials tonight.

Once again, I'm very close to not giving a f about pro track.

Wow, exact same situation as Jarrion Lawson a few years back. Wish I could read the full ruling from the arbitrator or AIU, but it's not out yet.

For now I'm just happy he'll be at trials, the 200 is gonna be one of the highlights of the weekend.

Normally I appreciate transparency but I genuinely can't think of one benefit (to the sport as a whole) of publicising this if he was deemed not at fault and given no penalty. It just further erodes the reputation of the sport and invites people to think he is doping even if he actually isn't (not making a comment either way on that one).

In cases like this I'd honestly rather not know unless AIU had already appealed to CAS, as then they'd have to explain why he's sitting out an entire season (since he'd be in court).

Probably an unpopular opinion, I'm sure many here will appreciate full transparency. It's undeniable that stuff like this holds athletics to a 100x higher standard than any other sport and will be part of the reason it will never take off as a mainstream sport.

Are we allowed to see evidence presented to defend him? I’m a big Knighton fan, but that article did not provide me any relief that he didn’t take this himself.

This would carry more weight if the track trials had begun, I think.

Anyone knowledgeable enough to enlighten us as to how likely it is to actually have Trembolone in your system, and up to which level?

I ll ask ChatGPT first as I really don't know...

he's guilty as hell

Hard to say much without the info. There’s a scenario where they it was a trace amount and they go to the meat supplier and test it and it all checks out. There’re ones where it feels like USADA is maybe giving the benefit of the doubt overly. Tygart we know seems forgiving on this issue. It should come out later where this lies.

swimmers are doping too bro

So that means you won't be coming here anymore?

Actually I changed my mind on this. I appreciate it being public but it's unfortunate that every other sport gets to be way more dirty whilst appearing cleaner somehow.

When will Mu's ruling come out since she hasn't been racing this year either?

He's got the Bolt pass #GodDid

You know, I used to run. I was in a club that turned out to be totally dirty, in the age cohort above mine. I used to train alongside those people.

The problem is, I still like going fast, or trying to go fast. It's too bad that human defectives have found an area of endeavor that allows this kind of stuff to happen, so that they can exploit it.

Just like in the 100, I believe there to be a limit in the 200. I'm not sure where it is, maybe 19.75 or 19.80

You just really don't know what or who to believe, because the athletes have shown that anything is possible, including the most ridiculous lies you can think of.

Knighton, 19.49 Sure. There is reasonable suspicion attached to every single athlete currently performing at a high level.

You acting as if swimmers can't dope, get outta here.

Everyone is guilty, they're cherry picking who they want to catch.

Genuine question: is tainted meat really so common in the US?