Jason Smith received a 4-year sanction by CrossFit for violating its drug test policy in 2023. Two weeks prior to making his fourth appearance at the CrossFit Games, Smith was notified that his in-competition drug test at Semifinals tested positive for multiple banned substances.
When the failed drug test was announced by CrossFit, Smith was quite vocal on Instagram. The post, which has subsequently been removed by Smith, said, “Completely shattered. Speechless and have so many questions. For anyone who knows me, knows how against using Performance Enhancers I am to gain any advantage in sport or CrossFit.”
Smith appealed the result, but it was already too late to compete at the Games. In November, CrossFit denied Smith’s appeal and issued a four-year sanction. Since then, Smith had never spoken publicly about it.
But a month ago, Smith made an appearance on The Blue Room Podcast. where he spoke about the 2023 CrossFit Games season and ultimately what happened when he received word from CrossFit that he failed his drug test.
According to Smith, his plan for 2023 was to compete in the 35-39 Masters division. While Smith failed to qualify for the Masters CrossFit Games, he did qualify for the Rebel Renegade Games, one of the elite individual Semifinals.
Smith shared that he was planning on declining the invite, but friends and members from his gym had already purchased tickets and urged him to compete. Smith ultimately decided to compete, but with no expectations of vying for the one qualifying spot.
Lo and behold, Smith won.
Smith began training for the 2023 CrossFit Games, when he received an email two weeks out. The email said his sample tested positive for banned substances and that he could pay to have his B sample tested.
According to Smith, he was finally able to get ahold of the drug test results, but they were in Russian. He consulted with numerous individuals and agencies, including WADA, to try to understand how something like this had gotten into his system.
Smith says he spent R30,000, which is approximately $1,800 USD to send a supplement to the United States to be tested, which came back negative.Â
You can watch Smith tell his story beginning at 20:07 in the video below.
Because Smith was unable to prove a supplement was tainted, he received a 4-year sanction from CrossFit. That sanction ends in May 2027.
When asked if he will compete in the Masters CrossFit Games in 2028, Smith responded, “Not a chance.” He added, “I really love the philosophy and the training and the methodology, I really enjoy. But CrossFit Games side, they won’t get another stitch from me.”
