WADA welcomes result of appeal in case of U.S. sprinter Erriyon Knighton

The World Anti-Doping Agency WADA welcomes the decision announced today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold its appeal and impose a four-year period of ineligibility on the American sprinter Erriyon Knighton, who tested positive for a metabolite of the anabolic steroid, trenbolone, in March 2024. WADA took this appeal to CAS in the interest of fairness for athletes and clean sport, which WADA believes has now been delivered through this decision.   

WADA – and World Athletics – appealed against the first instance decision of a U.S. tribunal that found Mr. Knighton had established that his positive sample resulted from the consumption of contaminated oxtail meat and should therefore benefit from a finding of ‘No Fault or Negligence’ for his Anti-Doping Rule Violation.  

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accepted and chose not to appeal the U.S. tribunal’s finding of meat contamination despite the evidence from its experts that this was implausible, but it was WADA’s firm and clear view – and that of World Athletics – that Mr. Knighton had failed to establish meat contamination as the source.   

During its appeal to CAS, WADA brought forward several experts, including some who had given evidence for USADA in the first instance proceedings, who were able to demonstrate to the CAS Panel that meat contamination was not a plausible explanation for how the prohibited substance was found to be in the athlete’s system. 

WADA reviews all anti-doping decisions taken by Signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code to ensure they are in line with the rules, and the Agency exercises its right of appeal when warranted. WADA is pleased with the outcome of this case and will continue to appeal cases to CAS when it feels justice has not been served.