Jordan Oliver is allowed to compete once again.

Oliver's one-year suspension by USADA for an anti-doping rule violation ended on April 28, just one day after the start of the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, which would have given him the chance to qualify for the Freestyle World Team Trials in Rochester, MN, this month. Essentially, it turns his punishment from a one-year ban to two years since he was forced to miss out on qualifying for the trials this year, even though he is currently fully eligible to compete.

Now that his suspension is lifted, the two-time NCAA champion and former WTT runner-up should have a chance to compete for the 65kg spot on May 20. But how can that happen if he did not go through the trials process?

Here’s why there’s a precedent:

In the past, USA Wrestling has handed out wild cards to wrestlers who went through the application process and met the criteria to be included in the trials. The last time that wild card was given out was in 2015. 

This is what the criteria consisted of that year:

• Top 3 finisher from the 2013 or 2014 Freestyle World Team Trials (Senior)

• Champion from a Senior-level North American or Pan American United World Wrestling International competition from May 1, 2013, up to the 2015 World Team Trials

• Top 3 finisher from the 2012 Freestyle Olympic Trials

• Top 3 finisher from the 2015 NCAA Division I Championships

Now that we know the "how," let’s discuss the "why." 

There’s truly only one reason. USA Wrestling’s goal is to put the best team on the mat in order to win world medals. It’s no secret that Oliver is one of the best competitors we have, so to exclude him from the World Team Trials would go against the main objective of putting together the best team. 

During his Senior-level career, Oliver has beaten the following:

Brent Metcalf (1-0, 0-1, 1-0)

Joey McKenna (10-0)

Jaydin Eierman (11-1)

Logan Steiber (8-5)

Zain Retherford (5-3)

Frank Molinaro (4-4)

Kellen Russell (6-0)

Watch JO hold off Frank Molinaro in last year's US Open finals:

I am not proclaiming that JO is the guy for the 65kg spot. By being able to enter, it is not a guarantee that he will win. He still has to beat many quality opponents. Also, there is nothing being taken away from any of the competitors we just saw at the U.S. Open, but by giving him the chance to compete at the trials it ensures that the process of finding the best guy for the spot is being fully vetted. 

So based on the previous wild-card criteria, which is still in place despite not being used since 2015, Oliver's credentials, and the main objective of wanting to put together the best team, it’s pretty simple to see that he should be given the chance to try and make this year’s freestyle world team. 

While the wild-card discussion is based solely on the JO situation, it should be opened up to any wrestlers who meet the criteria like in past years.