The Athletics Integrity Unit said on Wednesday it has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case that cleared American sprinter Erriyon Knighton of a doping offence, thus allowing him to compete at the Paris Olympics.

Knighton, 20, tested positive for a banned substance in March but avoided a ban as the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said an independent arbitrator ruled it was likely caused by contaminated meat and that he was not at fault and had not acted with negligence.

The finding cleared the 200 metres world silver medallist to run at the U.S. Olympic trials in June and he went on to compete in Paris where he finished fourth in the men’s 200m final.

The AIU, an independent body created in 2017 by World Athletics to manage integrity issues for the sport of athletics, said it has challenged the first instance decision that Knighton had established no fault or negligence.

“This appeal is against the decision of an arbitration tribunal in the United States that the athlete established no fault or negligence after USADA brought charges against the athlete for the presence of epitrenbolone and use of trenbolone,” the AIU said on X.

USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygart said in a statement on Wednesday he understood the AIU’s reasons for appealing the case, which he called an example of the system at work, before pointing a finger at the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“The real issue in this case is WADA’s bad rule. Trenbolone, the substance in Knighton’s case, is a known livestock enhancer and known to be found in the meat supply,” Tygart said.

“We have advocated for the rules around contamination to formally change for years, and WADA has refused to act swiftly.”

U.S. and global anti-doping authorities have been at loggerheads since the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed to compete.

-Reuters

French 400-meter runner Muhammad Abdallah Kounta, who took part in the Paris Olympics, has been suspended by the French Athletics Federation after an X account dug up hate speech posted by the athlete, the sports minister said on Wednesday.

“The Federation’s president confirmed he has suspended the athlete and referred the matter both to the public prosecutor and to the Federation’s disciplinary committee,” Amelie Oudea-Castera said on X.

X account Sword of Solomon on Tuesday highlighted some tweets posted by Kounta between 2021 and 2024 in which, among other things, he professes hatred for Israel.

After the revelations, the athlete posted a picture of himself wrapped in a French flag on his social media accounts, saying he was sorry if he had offended people.

“I’m against genocides and all forms of racism or injustice and I don’t think I need to prove how much I love my country. People who were there in the Stade de France (where the athletic events took place) can attest that fact,” Kounta said.

– Reuters

Team Nigeria sprinter, Favour Ofili who was controversially denied the opportunity of featuring in the Women’s 100m race at the Paris 2024 Olympics has promised to bounce back stronger and faster.

 That itself is the spirit behind the motto of the Olympic Games – Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger). If the addition, Communiter (Together)  made to the motto by the IOC in 2023 is included, perhaps, the other members should also key into Ofili’s action.

  She has posted on her X-handle a soul-lifting message that had close to 82 thousand views within 10 hours. Close to five thousand liked her post within a short time.

Her message reads:

“It’s easy to feel defeated, but every setback is a set up for a comeback. I’m proud of myself, this Olympic made me realize how strong I am and I’m grateful for the support I got from my coach,family and fans.

“Trusting God’s plan and ways is the only way to heal, because I know his plans for me is to give me a hope and a future. Thank you Paris for yet another lesson learned and thank you to everyone who has been with me along the way—this isn’t the end, it’s just another step in the story.”