Ep. 061: Drug Testing in CrossFit

07/15/22 • 69 min

“We’re not trying to protect the athletes, we’re trying to protect the claim. And the best thing we can do to protect the claim is to test the athletes.” — Justin Bergh
General Manager of Sport Justin Bergh and Athlete Relationship Manager Kurtis Bowler join host Chase Ingraham and Adrian Conway on the podcast for an extensive discussion about CrossFit’s drug-testing protocol, recent positive test results among top-performing athletes, and best practices to prevent positive results in the future.
During the 2022 CrossFit season, a number of athletes have tested positive for banned substances, including CrossFit Games qualifiers. To protect the integrity of the competition and its athletes, CrossFit strongly enforces an anti-doping policy.
In the podcast, Bergh and Bowler thoroughly explain the drug-testing process that athletes undergo. They also explain how athletes can appeal their drug violation and how Games spots are backfilled should a Games qualifier test positive for a banned substance.
Bergh also explains CrossFit’s mission to ensure that all athletes are able to compete on an even playing field, protecting its integrity as a sport and the claim of finding the Fittest on Earth.
As a former collegiate athlete and a Games competitor who’s been drug tested, Conway shares his experiences with the process and gives his opinion on being a responsible athlete in a professional sport.
In an attempt to help the CrossFit community, Bowler offers guidance on how athletes can better familiarize themselves with CrossFit’s Drug Testing Policy and as well as advice on how to better educate themselves about the supplements they’re taking.
Bowler encourages athletes to reach out to CrossFit’s team with any and all questions, advises athletes to read supplement labels, and urges athletes subscribe to “The Hopper,” which contains informative literature about the competition and drug-testing policy for the community and competitive athletes.
Bergh and Bowler also list the most common banned substances found in positive results, weigh in on the severity of the penalty imposed on the athlete, and address the misconception that CrossFit protects athletes by not disclosing positive tests.
For more information on CrossFit’s Drug Policy, visit games.crossfit.com/drug-testing and/or reach out to [email protected].

Previous Episode

Ep. 060: Last-Chance Qualifier Winners

Adrian Conway joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to recap the 2022 Last-Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
After two days and four workouts, Tim Paulson, Jonne Koski, Arielle Loewen, and Elena Carratala Sanahuja have punched their tickets to Madison for the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games.
Conway and Ingraham analyze athletes’ performances, breaking down the leaderboards in each workout and sharing surprising outcomes from the competition.
Conway puts on his coaching hat and offers his perspective on Sara Sigmundsdottir’s training post-injury and on Katrin Davidsdottir balancing life on and off the competition floor. He also sheds light on the mental and physical challenges of competing.
The pair also revisits their predictions for the LCQ, seeing how their top picks placed on the leaderboards, and offering their opinions on the workout that best predicted the overall top 10 in the competition.
The 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games will be live from Aug. 3-7.
Presented by Airrosti.

Next Episode

Ep. 062: Defeating CrossFit Mayhem

“I think with the team side, there are some unique things to consider. ... A combination of men and women, how they work together, how they communicate, the way they’re training leading up to competition, how they were able to build their individual fitness all year long. ... There are so many more variables with teams than there are with individuals.” — Adrian Conway
Multi-year Affiliate Cup champion Adrian Conway joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to talk about team competition and what it’s going to take to beat Affiliate Cup reigning champion CrossFit Mayhem at the CrossFit Games.
Having captained a CrossFit Games affiliate to victory against Mayhem and also having experience as an individual competitor, Conway shares his knowledge and experiences competing in both divisions. He weighs in on the varying degrees of pressure, discusses the differences between four- and six-person teams, and reflects on what he’s learned over the years to maximize his team’s and his own potential.
Conway and Ingraham discuss balancing strategy, teamwork, and fitness in team programming, and how and what athletes should be tested on to determine the fittest affiliate on Earth. They also note challenges athletes can face working as a unit, and identify mental and physical characteristics that make a formidable team member.
The duo close out the podcast by sharing their best strategies for defeating CrossFit Mayhem. Conway and Ingraham highlight events and movements that tend to favor the dominant affiliate, note the advantages of confidence and momentum on the competition floor, and acknowledge the impact of a flawless performance.
Will anyone beat CrossFit Mayhem? Tune in to the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games, Aug. 3-7, to find out.