Last week we reported that a team member of CrossFit FBDV Mayhem Africa had tested positive for a banned substance per the CrossFit Games’ Drug Policy. At the time very little details were known as CrossFit had yet to make a formal statement regarding the failed drug test.
Instead, CrossFit Games veteran and team member, Michelle Merand, got ahead of the news and shared that the results had been appealed. A request for comment or additional details was declined as the appeal process is still underway.
Since then, CrossFit has shared some details surrounding the sample in question. CrossFit has confirmed that Angelique Connoway was the athlete who provided the sample that tested positive. Additionally, Connoway’s sample contained metabolites of GW501516.
CrossFit FBDV Mayhem Africa’s appeal is still underway and a final ruling has not yet been made.
GW501516 is one of the more common substances that has shown up in failed drug tests recently. Of the 26 sanctions handed out in 2022 and 2023, GW501516 was attributable to 13 of the sanctions. All but one of those athletes that tested positive for GW501516 received a 4-year sanction from CrossFit competitions. Nasser Alruwayeh received a lesser 2-year sanction after proving a supplement he took was tainted.
GW501516 is also the same substance that Lize Burns tested positive for after winning the team competition at last year’s Africa Semifinal, Fittest in Cape Town.
As for what will happen to Connoway’s appeal, it is still unclear how CrossFit will rule. However, CrossFit did not finalize Burns’ appeal last year until September…well after the 2022 CrossFit Games. So unless CrossFit makes a ruling (and upholds the appeal), CrossFit FBDV Mayhem Africa will most likely be unable to compete.
CrossFit has historically allowed the next team to backfill the invite to the CrossFit Games as long as there is enough time for the team (or athlete) to make it to Madison. If that occurs this year, Cape CrossFit Wolfpack, who finished 2nd this year, would receive the team invite.
Prior to this year, Connoway competed as an individual at the African Semifinal where she finished 23rd in 2021 and 9th in 2022. This year she joined Merand, Alan Foulis and AJ Visser for the team division.
