The room was chaos the moment Thomas stepped onto the podium.
Cameras flashed nonstop. Reporters shouted over each other. Microphones were pushed so close that security had to step in.
ESPN, CNN, BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Sky Sports, Global Sports Network, SportsHub Media, and over thirty other outlets were present. Every seat was filled. Every corridor was crowded. Even the balcony had journalists squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder.
Thomas adjusted the mic, face stern, eyes sharp.
"Everyone, calm down," he said firmly. "I will take questions from as many outlets as possible. One question per representative. Let's do this properly."
The entire room went quiet.
He had never spoken with this level of authority before. Even the cameras stopped moving for a moment.
A woman from BBC Sport shot her hand up first.
"Is it true that over a dozen U.S. athletes tested positive for the enhancement formula?"
Thomas didn't hide anything.
