USA Sprinter Tabbed as ‘Next Big Thing’ by Usain Bolt Facing 4-Year Ban

A little over a week ago, U.S. track and field star Erriyon Knighton came within 0.19 seconds of winning a bronze medal in the men’s 200 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics (he finished behind fellow American Noah Lyles).

And now, the 20-year-old Knighton is facing a four-year ban that would disqualify him from competing in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after the Athletics Integrity Unit stated it was appealing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s no-fault finding in his doping case just before the summer’s Olympic Games.

Knighton alleges his positive doping test, which showed traces of Trenbolone — a substance that is often prevalent in livestock — was a result of eating contaminated meat from a bakery in Florida.

“Erriyon will vigorously defend himself against this baseless appeal,” Knighton’s attorney Howard Jacobs said, via the Associated Press.

The USADA tested the shipment of meat from the bakery Knighton ate at and an independent panel determined that it very well may have been the cause for his positive test. Because of the ruling, Knighton was allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics.

Knighton’s attorney hinted that the World Anti-Doping Agency could simply be trying to make an example out of his client.

“The very public battle between WADA and USADA, which has recently caught the attention of the IOC, rightly leads to the question of whether U.S. athletes like Erriyon Knighton are collateral damage in a series of coordinated efforts against USADA’s attacks,” Jacobs added.

Knighton is considered a rising star in the track and field community. He even received high praise from eight-time Olympic gold-medal sprinter Usain Bolt before the 2024 Olympics.

“There is one kid who had my attention for a while. His name is Knighton, and he is from the States. He ran 19.40-something,” Bolt told “The Obi One Podcast.” “He's only just turning 20, so he was pretty good.”