Sat Sep 13 10:10:00 UTC 2025: **Knighton Banned for Four Years, Sidelined from 2028 Olympics**
**GENEVA** – American sprinter Erriyon Knighton, once hailed as a rising star in track and field, has been handed a four-year ban for doping, effectively ruling him out of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced the decision Friday, overturning a previous U.S. tribunal ruling that had cleared Knighton based on a contamination claim.
The case stemmed from a positive test for an anabolic steroid. While the initial tribunal accepted Knighton’s explanation that contaminated meat was to blame, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) appealed the decision. They argued the evidence presented by Knighton was statistically improbable. CAS sided with the appellants, imposing the maximum four-year ban.
“After considering the scientific evidence, the CAS panel determined that 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 [positive test],” CAS said in a statement.
Knighton, currently the sixth-fastest man over 200 meters with a personal best of 19.49 seconds, finished fourth in the 200m at the Paris Olympics. His 2022 time remains the world junior record.
The ban is effective immediately, lasting until early July 2029. CAS clarified that Knighton’s Paris Olympics result would stand. WADA celebrated the CAS decision, stating it would continue to appeal cases where justice was not served.
Knighton did not qualify for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
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