Jason Smith was provisionally sanctioned from competing at the 2023 CrossFit Games on July 27, just one week prior to the start of the competition. Smith, who qualified out of the Africa Semifinal, tested positive for 5a-androstane-3a, 17b-diol (5aAdiol) and 5b-androstane-3a, 17b-diol (5bAdiol). He appealed the test results at that time.
Now, exactly four months later, CrossFit has officially sanctioned Jason Smith for violating the drug test policy. Smith received the full 4-year suspension beginning on the date he provided the in-competition drug test sample, May 21, 2023. He is suspended from competing in any CrossFit-licensed competition until May 21, 2027.
Smith, a three-time CrossFit Games veteran, was 39 years old when he qualified for the 2023 CrossFit Games. His original plan was to compete in the 35-39 year-old masters division, but after a penalty during the Age Group Quarterfinals prevented him from advancing to Semifinals, he accepted his invite to compete in the Open division.
He would go on to win the REBEL Renegade Games, host of the Africa Semifinal, to qualify for the Games in the Open division before the drug test results came back.
On Friday, Smith took to Instagram and shared a photo with the caption, “Time to rebuild”. He added #ntguilty and #newchapter. Many believed it was an indication that CrossFit had ruled in his favor and Smith’s appeal worked.
However, in speaking with Smith, he told The Barbell Spin, “As expected from CrossFit, they didn’t consider anything I sent through.”
And with that, Smith will not be able to compete until the 2028 CrossFit Games season in the Masters 40-44 age group division.
