Late last night CrossFit announced that 3rd place finisher at the 2017 CrossFit Games Ricky Garard had failed a drug test. Garard tested positive for testolone and endurobol, a beta-2 agonist following the final competition at this year’s CrossFit Games.
The failed drug test means that Garard’s podium finish and prize money ($76,000) has been stripped away from the Australian Games rookie. Patrick Vellner who originally finished 4th will now be awarded the 3rd place spot.
“The CrossFit Games have never had a top individual athlete test positive for PEDs until this case,” said General Manager of the CrossFit Games Justin Bergh. “Historically, the most frequent causes for a failed test have been masters athletes failing to read and accept our policy for hormone replacement in competition, and individual and team athletes using supplements containing banned substances not found on labels. Garard’s case does not appear to be accidental, and we take this result very seriously.”
Garard has been suspended from CrossFit-sanctioned competitions through the 2021 season and his invitation to compete at the 2017 CrossFit Invitational later this year has been rescinded.
Garard’s positive drug test is the latest in a string to failed drug tests this season. Following Regionals, CrossFit Games qualifier Ryan Elrod tested positive for a fertility drug and was disqualified from competing at the Games. And more recently, five regional athletes from the Meridian Regional were sanctioned after failed drug tests.
