All about doping in CrossFit
Doping is something that unfortunately exists in all elite sports and even more so when large amounts of money are involved. CrossFit has always made this clear:
To protect the integrity of the competition and its athletes, CrossFit works to ensure the level playing field by creating and enforcing rules that are embodied in the rulebook. The company is also maintains a strict anti-doping policy, which is necessary to be able to crown the fittest person on earth.
How does drug testing work?
Urine or blood samples will be collected at competitions as well as at any other place or time during the season. DRUG FREE SPORT, a company that tests in other sports such as the NFL, NBA and MLB .
Urine or blood samples are taken at competitions and also at any place or time during the season.
Following a security protocol, they are sent to a laboratory approved by the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) where they will be analyzed.
Once the results are received, and in the event that a prohibited substance is detected, CrossFit will reach the athlete to notify them and allow them 72 hours to indicate if they wish to appeal..
The athlete may request documentation showing that one or more substances have been detected in his or her system. The Athlete then has 10 days to file an appeal explaining or proving that he/she did not violate the anti-doping rules..
In this case, CrossFit will review the appeal and respond as soon as possible to its final decision . If, after all, it is proven that the athlete has violated the anti-doping rules, CrossFit will proceed to communicate the 4-year sanction.
To date, we are not aware of any case in which CrossFit has withdrawn the sanction because the athlete has been able to prove that he/she did not use prohibited substances. At best it has proceeded with a reduction of the sanction, as with the Brazilian Larissa Cunha's case explained below.
Prohibited substances in CrossFit
Athletes competing in CrossFit agree to accept the rulebook, which specifies exactly which substances are prohibited. Here is the official list of the Wada.
Drug policy CrossFit
List of athletes who have been sanctioned for doping
2023
The first case in 2023 was a 50 - 54 master athlete.
Daniela Hodges, failed to submit a sample when requested by CrossFit on March 19.
Hodges finished 20th in the 2023 Open, but did not register for the Quarterfinals after the sample was requested.
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danijela Hodges | 🇦🇺 | He did not deliver the sample. | Master athlete 50-54. 4 years sanction, until March 2027. |
2022
Nycolas Joyal (28), 5th in the Atlas Games, made a post on Instagram confessing to having taken banned substances for two weeks.
The athlete admits to having gone through a bad emotional time, seeing that other athletes were better than him.
This had a negative effect on his mental state and during the Open, where he finished 519th in the world, he felt he was not at the level he wanted to be.
On June 12, he was tested during the Atlas Games semifinals where he tested positive for GW501516 and Ostarine. The same substances as Ricky Garard in 2017.
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bart Walsh | 🇺🇸 | Metabolites of GW1516 | Neuromuscular division CrossFit Games 2022. 4 years sanction |
| Taylor Streid | 🇺🇸 | Ostarine | Positive in Syndicate Crown. Sanctioned until May 2026. |
| Hunter Williams | 🇺🇸 | GW1516 | CrossFit CLT at Syndicate Crown. Suspended until 2026. |
| Tommy Tillman | 🇺🇸 | clomiphene | Positive at CrossFit Games 2022. Sanction until August 2026. |
| Nycolas Joyal | 🇨🇦 | Ostarine and GW501516 | Positive in Atlas Games. Suspended until July 2026 |
| Michel Catris | 🇬🇧 | anastrozole, clomiphene and metabolites GW1516 | Positive in Strength in Depth. Sanctioned until June 12, 2026. |
| Benjamin Wadham | 🇬🇧 | ostarine and metabolite of oral turinabol | Positive for Strength in Depth. Sanction until June 2026. |
| Sandra Annett | 🇨🇦 | metabolites of stanozolol | Positive in Atlas Games. Sanction until June 2023. |
| Sabrina Dellagiustina | 🇦🇷 | Oxandrolone | Q21 CrossFit team member until 2026 |
| Claudia Espinosa | 🇪🇨 | clomiphene, methenolone and stanozololol | Individual in Copa Sur. Suspended until 2026 |
| Mirela Bedore | 🇧🇷 | GW1516, LGD 4033 and stanozolol. | 2nd Team in South Cup. Suspended until 2026. |
| Willian Dalpogeto | 🇧🇷 | clomiphene, nandrolone metabolites and stanozolol | 2nd Team in South Cup. Suspended until 2026. |
| Lumma Roberta | 🇧🇷 | gestrinone and GW1516 | 3rd South Cup Team. Suspended until 2026. |
| Phablo Lima | 🇧🇷 | ostarine, oxandrolone and GW1516. | 3rd South Cup Team. Suspended until 2026. |
| Phil Toon | 🇺🇸 | Androstan, drostanolone | 2nd individual in Granite Games. Suspended until 2026 |
| Pedro Martins | 🇧🇷 | Clomiphene | 2nd individual in Copa Sur. Suspended until 2024 |
| Nasser Alruwayeh | 🇰🇼 | GW1516 | 2nd individual in Far East Throwdown. Suspended until 2024. |
| Ines Alviso | 🇵🇾 | GW1516 | Kingbull Paraguay in Copa Sur. Suspended until 2026 |
| Jaylond Franklin | 🇺🇸 | GW1516 | CrossFit Shoofly at Mid-Atlantic. Suspended until 2026 |
| Stephen Wallace | 🇺🇸 | Ostarine | Blues City CrossFit at Syndicate Crown. Suspended until 2026 |
| Toby Johnson | 🇺🇸 | GW1516 | Koda CrossFit at Mid Atlantic. Suspended until 2026 |
| Lize Burns | 🇿🇦 | GW1516 | CrossFit Commit Okavango at Fittest in Cape Town. Suspended until 2026. |
| Joey Coste | 🇺🇸 | GW1516 | Suspended until 2026 |
| Hunter Williams | 🇺🇸 | GW1516 | Positive in Syndicate Crown. Suspended until 2026. |
| Jeff Adams | Metabolites of GW1516. | 4 years sanction until August 2026. |
2021
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard Luzzy | 🇺🇸 | Meldonium | First in Master 50-54 Games 2021. Suspended until July 29, 2025. |
| Svetlana Kubyshkina | 🇷🇺 | Methenolone and its metabolite, furosemide and trimetazidine | 2021 Asia Semifinal Champion. Suspended until July 29, 2025. |
| Larissa Cunha | 🇧🇷 | Ostarine | Positive before the start of CrossFit Games 2021 (2 years sanction for contaminated supplements). |
| Janelle Stites | 🇺🇸 | Ostarine | Her team Team On Track 5th in Mid Atlantic CrossFit Semifinal disqualified and her 4 year ban. |
| Ashley Flaser | 🇺🇸 | SARMs | Her team, Team Ocean State, disqualified and she is suspended for 4 years. |
| Ray Flaser | 🇺🇸 | SARMs | His team, Team Ocean State, disqualified, and he receives a 4-year ban. |
| Katie Christian | 🇺🇸 | Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) | Her Move Fast Lift Heavy team disqualified and her 4-year ban |
| Deshawn Smith | 🇺🇸 | Endurabol (SARMs) | His team Invictus Unconquerable 2nd in the West Coast Classic disqualified and he gets a 4 year ban. |
Larissa Cunha
During the celebration of the CrossFit Games 2021 , the organization announced the disqualification of Brazilian athlete Larissa Cunha for testing positive for Ostarine.
The test was conducted on July 14, 2 weeks before the CrossFit Games. The results were announced when the athlete was already in Madison ready for check-in.
The athlete tried to prove that there was a mistake and obtained a reduction of the sanction to 2 years ..
Janelle Stites
The first positive for doping in 2021 occurred in the Mid Atlantic CrossFit Semifinal. Janelle Stites was a member of the Team On Track who finished 5th and had qualified for the Games.
The athlete tested positive in a weightlifting competition that had been held earlier.
Ray and Ashley Flaser
Members of the Team Ocean State Team that was 5th in Granite Games.
The couple was sanctioned for testing positive for MRSA. Ray confessed to have been using Pure Mass, a product containing a number of prohibited substances such as Testolone, Ligandrol, Ostarine and Adderall among others.
Katie Christian
Team member of Move Fast Lift Heavy tested positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the Granite Games.
The athlete made a post assuming her responsibility, but explained that she was unaware that the substance was banned.
My passion for nutrition and homeopathic medicine has led me to take several vitamins, supplements and herbs that I believe helped me stay healthy and strong and keep me off any prescribed medication. One of these supplements was DHEA.
2020
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lefteris Theofanidis | 🇬🇷 | 19-norandrosterone and meldonium | 4 years / 2024 |
| Alanna Fisk Colón | 🇺🇸 | In process of appeal | Positive on Wodapalooza 2020. Awaiting resolution |
Lefteris Theofanidis
The first sanctioned for doping, in 2020, was a controversial case. Lefteris posted his Open videos (3rd) and his replays did not always appear to meet movement standards.
He was heavily criticized for his poor performance in official competitions compared to his performance during the Open.
Lefteris tested positive in a sample that was submitted on Dec. 12, 2019 during the Dubai CrossFit Championship.
The athlete was sanctioned with 4 years for the use of 19-norandrosterone (anabolic agent) and meldonium classified as a hormone and metabolic modulator.
2019
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabor Torok | 🇭🇺 | Stanozolol metabolite (16β-hydroxystanozololol) and Clomiphene | 48th at Games 2019 was Fittest in Hungary. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Vincent Lopez | 🇺🇸 | Exogenous testosterone | 8th in Games 2019 Masters 55-59. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Paul Perna | 🇺🇸 | Exogenous testosterone | 1st in Games 2019 Masters +60. 4 years sanction until 2023. |
| Robbie Perovich | 🇨🇦 | GW1516 sulfoxide, GW1516 sulfone and ostarine. | 6th in Games 2019 Masters 40-44. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Marion Valkenburg | 🇳🇱 | Stanozolol metabolites (3'-hydroxystanozololol and 16β-hydroxystanozololol) | 3rd in Games 2019 Maters 55-59. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Katie Trombetta | 🇺🇸 | GW1516 (Endurabol) and Ostarine | 44th at CrossFit Games 2019. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Franky Wood | 🇭🇳 | 3-hydroxy-4-methoxytamoxifen and hCG (Intact human chorionic gonadotropin) | 87th in CrossFit Games 2019 and National Champion in Honduras. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Achilleas Pantazis | 🇨🇾 | GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone | 126th in CrossFit Games 2019 and National Champion in Cyprus. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Anna Fragkou | 🇬🇷 | Oral Turinabol (anabolic agent) | 9th in CrossFit Games 2019 and National Champion in Greece. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Haylie Thompson | 🇺🇸 | GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone | 4th in CrossFit Games 2019 master 55 - 59. 4 years sanction until 2023. |
| Mauro Acevedo | 🇦🇷 | Oral turinabol, metabolites, GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone | 3rd in the Argentina Open. Test performed at FitLand Fitness Festival. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Juan Sforzini | 🇦🇷 | Stanozolol metabolites | 16th in the Argentina Open. Test performed at FitLand Fitness Festival. 4 years sanction until 2023 |
| Elly Kabboord | 🇺🇸 | Clenbuterol | 4 years / 2023 |
| Hinrik Ingi Óskarsson | 🇮🇸 | ostarine and RAD-140 | 4 years / 2023 |
| Manila Pennacchio | 🇮🇹 | hormone and metabolic modulator GW1516 | 4 years / 2023 |
| Ben Garard | 🇦🇺 | GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone | 4 years / 2023 |
| Lauren Herrera | 🇺🇸 | andarine, a metabolite of LGD4033, and metabolites of GW1516 | 4 years / 2023 |
| Chantelle Loehner | 🇺🇸 | Oral Turinabol | 4 years / 2023 |
| Constanza Cabrera | 🇨🇱 | We have no info | Unannounced |
Katie Trombetta 44th at CrossFit Games 2019, explained that she missed the 72-hour window that CrossFit gives to be able to respond, as they had an email that she doesn't usually check. When they phone-called her, she also did not respond as it was from an unknown number.
Trombetta claimed not to have consciously taken any supplements containing these substances and explains that GW1516 and Ostarine are usually the most frequent in contaminated supplements and most of the cases of doping in CrossFit.
Hinrik Óskarsson
A case of those that surprised because it was a repeat offender. He had qualified for the CrossFit Games 2019 and became the first athlete in the top category to return to the Games after a ban.
But a few weeks after the end of the Reykjavik CrossFit Championship, CrossFit announced a new sanction for testing positive for ostarine and RAD-140, two banned substances that left him once again out of any CrossFit competition for 4 more years.
Elly Kabboord
She also participated in the Reykjavik CrossFit Champ. Kabboord claimed that she had been infected by clenbuterol after eating meat in Iceland. CrossFit contacted Icelandic health authorities, who assured that meat controls in the country were up-to-date.
Ben Garard
Another case that made a lot of noise was Ben Garard, Ricky Garard's brother, who tested positive for the same substances as his brother.
2018
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Abbott | 🇨🇦 | ibutamoren - anabolic | 4 years / 2022 |
| Dean Shaw | 🇿🇦 | clomiphene - selective estrogen receptor modulator | 4 years / 2022 |
| Lauren Shawver | 🇺🇸 | ostarine - anabolic | 4 years / 2022 |
| Laura Hosier | 🇺🇸 | higenamine - beta-2 agonist | 4 years / 2022 |
| Maria Ceballos | 🇨🇴 | stanozolol metabolites -anabolics | 4 years / 2022 |
| Andrey Ganin | 🇷🇺 | exogenous testosterone - anabolic steroids | 4 years / 2022 |
| Nuha Almarri | 🇦🇪 | GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone, metabolites of GW1516 and oral turinabol - metabolic modulator and anabolic androgenic steroid | 4 years / 2022 |
| Stephanie Araujo | 🇲🇽 | stanozolol metabolite - anabolic steroids | 4 years / 2022 |
| Joel Munro | 🇦🇺 | metabolites of GW1516 - metabolic modulator | 4 years / 2022 |
| Rachel Campbell | 🇺🇸 | metabolite of oxandrolone - anabolic steroid | 4 years / 2022 |
| Kara Paslay | 🇺🇸 | 1,3-dimethylbutylamine - stimulant | 2 years / 2020 |
| Megan Benzik | 🇺🇸 | epimentendiol, metabolites of methandienone and oxandrolone, epioxandrolone, methanol, a letrozole metabolie, and amphetamine | 4 years / 2022 |
| Carlos Castillo | 🇦🇷 | LGD4033 | 4 years / 2022 |
| Gena Malkovskiy | 🇷🇺 | clomiphene, meldonium, and a metabolite of drostanolone | 4 years / 2022 |
| Fabio Botteghi | 🇮🇹 | metabolites of GW1516 - metabolic modulator | 4 years / 2022 |
| Vivian Bomfim | 🇧🇷 | stanozolol metabolite - anabolic steroids | 4 years / 2022 |
| André Sanches | 🇧🇷 | epimentendiol, metabolites of methandienone, ostarine, LGD4033 - anabolics | 4 years / 2022 |
| Kelli Holm | 🇺🇸 | metabolites of GW1516 - metabolic modulator | 2 years / 2020 |
| Shawn Ramirez | 🇺🇸 | metabolites of GW1516 - metabolic modulator and ostarine - anabolizante | 4 years / 2022 |
Emily Abbott
One of the most talked about cases both for the popularity of the athlete and for the defense that the Canadian athlete used. Upon learning of her positive test result, the athlete denied having consumed any kind of doping substance and explained that she must have been infected through her husband's saliva..
Maria Ceballos
The Colombian athlete published a video on Instagram in which she appeared crying very sorry. Due to her sanction, she was left out what would have been the first Colombian team to participate in the CrossFit Games..
Andrey Ganin
The Russian who surprised with Roman Khrennikov by stepping on the podium at the Berlin Regionals.
2017
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Elrod | 🇺🇸 | Clomiphene | 2 years |
| Nick Thomas | 🇺🇸 | Ostarine | 2 years |
| OJ Washington | 🇺🇸 | Methylhexaneamine | 2 years |
| Andrea Barbotti | 🇮🇹 | Clomiphene | 4 years |
| Stella Christoforou | 🇨🇾 | Clenbuterol | 4 years |
| Ludovit Czokoly | 🇸🇰 | Clomiphene | 4 years |
| Pawel Lesnikowski | 🇵🇱 | Clenbuterol, Modafinil, elevated testosterone levels | 4 years |
| Gianluca Occhino | 🇮🇹 | Tamoxifen | 4 years |
| Ricky Garard | 🇦🇺 | Testolone, Endurobol | 4 years |
| Tony Turski | 🇺🇸 | Anastrozole | Not announced |
| Josee Sarda | 🇨🇦 | Ostarine, Testolone | Not announced |
Ricky Garard
The most scandalous case in CrossFit history. The Australian athlete placed third in his first year competing in the CrossFit Games. Commentators referred to the athlete's burst of energy.
All athletes who receive financial rewards undergo doping tests and after a while it came to light that he had used SARMs.
CrossFit withdrew him the title of the third-best athlete in the world, which went to Patrick Vellner, and was forced to return the prizes amounting US$76,000.
2016
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charis Chan | 🇺🇸 | Trenbolone | 4 years |
| Natalie Newhart | 🇺🇸 | Oxandrolone | 2 years |
| Scott Jones | 🇺🇸 | Anastrozole | 2 years |
| Penny Kemp | 🇦🇺 | Clomiphene | 1 year |
| Steve Marino | 🇺🇸 | Anabolic steroids | 2 years |
2015
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Pinkerton | 🇺🇸 | Anastrozole, Letrozole & 19-norandrosterone | 2 years |
| Elia Navarro | 🇪🇸 | Oxandrolone | 2 years |
| Richard Bohlken | 🇺🇸 | Ostarine | 1 year |
| Ryan Fischer | 🇺🇸 | It was impossible to locate him, nor did he cooperate with the agents. | 1 year |
| Hinrik Óskarsson | 🇮🇸 | Refused to take a doping test | 2 years |
The closest case to me was that of the Spanish athlete Elia Navarro. Elia tested positive for Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, during a test at the Meridian Regional 2015 that was held in Copenhagen, Denmark.. She did not appeal and was sanctioned for 2 years without being able to compete.
In an article that she wrote, Elia explained that due to a serious back injury where she suffered a fracture of the D11 vertebra, the doctors recommended her to take oxandrolone to accelerate and ensure recovery. She rejected this option, and the doctors advised her not to train until January.
In November, she returned to training and after the Open she began to feel discomfort so, seeing that the regionals were approaching, she decided to take oxandrolone to be able to compete.
The athlete admitted it was a mistake and took full responsibility.
2014
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylar Stallings | 🇺🇸 | B-methylphenethylamine | 1 year |
| Abigail Guerrero | 🇪🇸 | Methylhexanamine | 2 years |
Abigail Guerrero was the first Spaniard to test positive in a CrossFit drug test.
2010
| Athlete | Nationality | Prohibited substance | Sanction / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Ben Bergeron) | 🇺🇸 | Methylhexanamine | Eliminated from CrossFit Games 2010 |
| , Derek Mohammad | 🇺🇸 | Methylhexanamine | Eliminated from CrossFit Games 2010 |
Did you know that one of the most renowned coaches in the world, (Ben Bergeron)tested positive in 2010?. He was competing in a team event during the 2010 CrossFit Games when, as he stated, decided to buy a supplement with his teammate , Derek Mohammad and both tested positive for the same substance.
Athletes are responsible for what they ingest. Ben Bergeron publicly apologized to all the organizers of the competition.
