The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the participation of American sprinter Erriyon Knighton in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Knighton was allowed to compete in the Paris qualifiers after being cleared of a doping case.
Knighton initially tested positive for the banned steroid trenbolone during an out-of-competition test on March 26. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chose not to impose a suspension, attributing the positive result to contaminated meat. This decision enabled Knighton to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games, a move that has ignited widespread concern within the athletics community.
At just 20 years old, Knighton achieved a fourth-place finish in the men's 200m final in Paris. Following the race, Knighton declined to give any interviews, leaving reporters without responses.
Social media has been abuzz with reactions to the situation. One X user remarked, \"I smell conspiracy. He was cleared in time for Olympics then immediately after his case resumes. If he was Kenyan he wouldn't have been even allowed for trials.\" Another user added, \"No surprise, I was pretty shocked about the silence around his presence in Paris.\"
Founded in 2017, the AIU operates as an independent organization dedicated to preserving the integrity of athletics by managing and mitigating threats such as doping violations. The ongoing appeal underscores the organization's commitment to ensuring fair play and adherence to anti-doping regulations in the sport.
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AIU launches appeal after Erriyon Knighton competes at Paris 2024
cgtn.com
