American sprint star Erriyon Knighton has been handed a four-year ban after the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed his claim that contaminated beef caused him to test positive for steroids.
Knighton, 20, had risen to global fame after winning bronze in the 200 metres at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and silver in Budapest in 2023. But his career hit a major setback after an out-of-competition test on March 26, 2024, revealed the presence of epitrenbolone, an anabolic steroid.
Although he was provisionally suspended between April and June 2024, a US tribunal initially cleared him, ruling that food contamination could not be ruled out. That decision allowed him to compete at the Paris Olympics, where he placed fourth in the 200m final.
But the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and World Athletics challenged the ruling at CAS, insisting his defence was not supported by evidence. CAS sided with the appeal, stating in its judgment: “There is no proof that would support the conclusion that oxtail imported into the USA would be likely to contain trenbolone residues at the level required to have caused the Athlete’s Adverse Analytical Finding.”
The court further said Knighton’s explanation “fell short of the required proof of source and was statistically impossible.”
The ruling means Knighton is barred from competition for four years, with the period covering March 26, 2024, to April 12, 2024, officially included in the sanction.
WADA welcomed the verdict, saying in a statement: “WADA is pleased with the outcome and we will continue to appeal cases to CAS when we feel justice has not been served.”
Knighton, once seen as the biggest US hope over 200 metres since Usain Bolt’s retirement, will miss the World Championships in Tokyo, which begin on Saturday.
