Last updated on October 31st, 2025 at 11:42 am
Portland, ME — Garmey Law attorney Alexis Chardon has filed suit on behalf of Issam Asinga, the fastest high school sprinter in history, against Gatorade and its parent company, PepsiCo. The lawsuit alleges that Gatorade/Pepsi provided Issam with a contaminated nutritional substance, which contained trace amounts of a banned substance. This led to a four-year suspension from track and field that barred him from competing for Texas A&M University and the Paris Olympics.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges Gatorade provided a tainted product mislabeled as pure of banned substances and later knowingly withheld evidence that would have cleared Issam’s name. The lawsuit explains that Issam had been given a bottle of the supplement falsely marked as “NSF Certified for Sport” – a mark of purity relied upon by athletes like him. According to the lawsuit, Gatorade later refused to turn over a sealed supplement from the same lot Issam had ingested for testing, instead misleading the Athletics Integrity Unit by providing a specimen from a different lot for testing. The bottle Gatorade turned over for testing came from a different lot; one tested and cleared for banned substances.
Central to Asinga’s legal strategy is Garmey Law attorney Alexis Chardon spearheading the lawsuit. In an interview with the Washington Post, Chardon remarked on the misleading actions taken by Gatorade, stating: “They did a bait-and-switch. They said, ‘We don’t have a sealed supplement of the one we gave Issam. But we have this other one. Why don’t you take this one?’ That one was NSF tested. And then they let that lie fester.”
At just 19 years old, Issam Asinga had been on a promising trajectory toward Olympic glory. Asinga, known for setting the under-20 world record in the 100 meters and famously defeating world champion Noah Lyles, was honored by Gatorade in July 2023 as its high school track and field athlete of the year. As part of this recognition, he received a gift basket containing Gatorade Recovery Gummies, which he claims were contaminated with the banned substance GW1516.
The ramifications of the doping ban have been profound for Asinga, stripping him of his world record and potential participation in the Paris Olympics. Beyond the professional setbacks, the emotional toll has been substantial. “It was devastating,” Asinga expressed in a recent interview. “It was the worst day of my life.”
Asinga’s legal team is also pursuing compensation for lost economic opportunities and emotional distress caused by the incident. The lawsuit claims Gatorade’s actions have severely damaged Asinga’s career prospects and public image.
Despite the setback, Asinga remains focused on clearing his name. His lawyers challenged the AIU’s findings, arguing that the contamination was not deliberate. Issam’s ban is on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
If a dangerous or contaminated product has injured you or a loved one, Garmey Law is here to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced legal team today for a free consultation, and let us help you navigate your case confidently.