There has not been an official announcement by CrossFit, Inc. yet, but Katie Trombetta has shared that she failed an in-competition drug test while competing at the 2019 CrossFit Games. According to Trombetta, she tested positive for metabolites of GW1516 and Ostarine. Trombetta has received a 4-year sanction for the failed drug test.
CrossFit notified Trombetta of the failed drug test at the end of August, but the email was sent to a rarely used account and Trombetta did not see it until it was too late to dispute the findings. She ultimately saw the email in September and was denied an extension.
GW1516 is also known as endurobol. It is the same substance that many other recent athletes have tested positive for, including Ricky and Ben Garard, Shawn Ramirez and Kelli Holm.
Trombetta denies that she knowingly took these banned substances and alludes that it was likely due to contaminated substances. She admits that she was not as careful as she could have been in the weeks leading up to the Games with respect to taking supplements. Trombetta admitted to taking other people’s pre-workouts, protein powder and creatine.
“I have a 4 year ban from CrossFit. I won’t be competing after the 4 years. I’ll be 32. I’m too impatient and too angry with the sport that’s harshly punishing me for a mistake to wait that out,” said Trombetta.
Trombetta said she will be transitioning into Olympic Weightlifting because “I’ve always loved more than CrossFit (and am way better at, lol).”
Trombetta concluded her statement on Instagram by saying, “I’m jumping the gun here and announcing this before CrossFit does, because I think it’s only fair that I get to tell my truth.”
Trombetta qualified for her first trip to the CrossFit Games by finishing 28th worldwide in the CrossFit Open. She earned an invite via the Top 20 in the CrossFit Open. Trombetta finished 44th overall at the 2019 CrossFit Games.
Here is the entire statement by Trombetta:
I’ve typed up this post quite a few times over the past month, and every time I abandon it because I can’t get my words right. I’d like to be completely transparent and honest about what has been one of the hardest periods of my life thus far.
At the end of August I got notification that I failed my drug test at the CrossFit Games. They found metabolites of GW1516 and Ostarine in my sample. The email was sent to my old email that I rarely check, and I missed the 72 hour deadline to dispute CrossFit’s findings. When I finally saw the email in September, I asked for an extension, and it was denied. I got one phone call to notify me of the results, and was coaching when it came through, didn’t recognize the number, so didn’t think anything of it.
I did not knowingly take these compounds they found in my system. GW1516 and Ostarine are two of the most common substances found in contaminated supplements. If you don’t know anything about the supplement industry, it’s very loosely regulated, and 1/3 to 1/2 of all supplements have something in them that isn’t listed on the label. I admit I was not as careful as I could have been leading up to the Games. I used other people’s pre-workouts, protein, creatine, and I take over the counter melatonin, calcium, and vitamin C. Anything I was taking could have had these compounds present. It’s upwards of $1000 per sample to test for unknown substances, and that is impossible financially for me.
I understand I’m responsible for what I put in my body, but I also have been unable to convince CrossFit to allow me to see my lab results to get an idea of the amounts in my system at the time. Since I missed the deadline, my B sample was refused as well. It’s very likely I will never know the cause of the positive test. •
I have a 4 year ban from CrossFit. I won’t be competing after the 4 years. I’ll be 32. I’m too impatient and too angry with the sport that’s harshly punishing me for a mistake to wait that out. I am still allowed to compete in Sanctionals (if the individual sanctionals approve), or any competition not ran by CrossFit, but I can’t do the Open or compete to go to the Games.
Honestly, after weeks of struggling to come to terms with being forced permanently out of the sport I love, I’ve accepted it, and it truly is a blessing in disguise. I’ve transitioned into Olympic Weightlifting, which I’ve always loved more than CrossFit (and am way better at, lol). I have more time to devote to becoming a better person, friend, girlfriend, and daughter. My physical and mental health is overall better. I’m not in pain 24/7, and the worst part so far is that I don’t get to eat as much food.
My friends and family whom I have told have been more supportive than I could ever have hoped. Anyone who knows me knows how transparent and honest I am about my struggles and triumphs, and I hope anyone who only knows me through social media can take my last 6 years of open and honest communication about my life, and not assume that I’m a liar and a cheater. I devoted my life to CrossFit 24/7 for 6 years, I’m not stupid enough to jeopardize that by purposely taking something that could cause me to throw it all away. I’m jumping the gun here and announcing this before CrossFit does, because I think it’s only fair that I get to tell my truth.
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