Four athletes have been suspended this year.
The CrossFit Games implements an aggressive drug-testing program. Athletes are tested throughout the year, as well as at major competition events. No individual athlete can advance to the CrossFit Games in Carson, California, without being tested at least once.
This year we have had three positive tests that have resulted in suspensions, as well as one suspension for failing to participate in drug testing.
Steve Pinkerton and Elia Navarro Garcia have each accepted two-year sanctions after failing drug tests at this year's regional competitions.
Pinkerton provided a urine sample at the Atlantic Regional on May 17, 2015, that tested positive for the anti-estrogens Anastrozole and Letrozole, as well as 19-norandrosterone, a metabolite of the anabolic substance Nandrolone. Anti-estrogens and anabolic agents are banned substance classes under CrossFit’s Drug Testing Policy. Anabolic agents are banned even if these substances are prescribed by a physician as part of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Pinkerton declined to appeal the ruling and will be prohibited from competing in any CrossFit-sanctioned competition until the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games Open.
Navarro-Garcia provided a urine sample at the Meridian Regional on May 31, 2015 that tested positive for Oxandrolone, an anabolic agent. Navarro-Garcia declined to appeal the ruling and will be prohibited from competing in any CrossFit sanctioned competition until the 2018 Open.
So far in 2015, out-of-competition drug testing has resulted in the sanctioning of two additional athletes, Ryan Fischer (Southern California) and Richard Bohlken (South Central). Fischer was suspended for one year when he provided inaccurate information about his whereabouts, failed to cooperate with collection agents from Drug Free Sport, and did not report for his out of season test. Bohlken received a one-year suspension for testing positive for Ostarine, an anabolic agent from a contaminated supplement. Bohlken discussed his positive test in an Update Studio Special Report.
In 2014, two athletes, Taylar Stallings and Abigail Guerrero failed drug tests at their regionals and were sanctioned. Stallings provided a sample at the South East Regional that tested positive for B-methylphenethylamine, a stimulant that was an ingredient in an over-the-counter supplement, and received a one-year suspension. Guerrero provided a sample at the Canada East Regional that tested positive for metabolites of Methandienone (Dianabol), an anabolic agent and received a two-year suspension.
Drug Free Sport, the third-party collection and testing agency that implements U.S.-based drug tests, works with other major sports including the NBA, NFL, NCAA, PGA Tour, and more. Adherence to the Drug Testing Policy is required in order to participate in the CrossFit Games season.
