Congratulations! That means that you’re competing at the highest level in the sport and have been added to the Registered Athlete Testing Pool. With that success comes more responsibility.

In practical terms: Drug Free Sport will send you a quarterly email requesting your expected locations for the next 3 months. They may visit you at any of the locations that you submit for those 3 months to conduct a drug test. Check your email regularly for this message and be sure to submit your locations promptly to avoid missing a test. When filling out this form we recommend that you give your phone number, email, and the phone number and email of your next of kin. This ensures that if Drug Free Sport attempts to contact you for a test, you will not accidentally miss their communication.

The CrossFit Games uses Drug Free Sport as their partner for Doping Control and under their current protocol a single missed test can qualify as a failed test and lead to immediate suspension. So make sure to check your emails and always have your phone nearby!

If your plans have changed and your submitted locations for the quarter are no longer accurate, immediately send an email to your Doping Control Liaison to notify them of the change. For the CrossFit Games season, this should be reported to the CrossFit Games' Doping Control Liaison.

You will remain in the testing pool until you have been notified by CrossFit LLC that you have been removed. If you have retired from competition you can request to be removed from the testing pool, but may remain on a “watchlist”. This means you are still subject to random testing, but do not have to submit quarterly whereabouts. Once removed from the testing pool you are no longer eligible to advance or claim prize money in CrossFit Games competitions and other competitions may follow suit.

If you wish to return to competition you need to notify CrossFit or your governing body in writing at least 6 months prior to the start of competition and you will immediately re-enter the Registered Athlete Testing Pool.

Drug-Free Sport is an international anti-doping agency that administers drug testing programs and educational services for many major sports leagues like the NCAA, NBA, NFL, and the CrossFit Games.

They use WADA-approved protocols and have staff around the world to provide rapid delivery of testing. Some of the advantages of the Drug Free Sport program include strict missed test protocols and the opportunity for Direct testing, allowing organizations to quickly act on any suspicions of drug use in their sports.

One of the benefits of using Drug Free Sport as a testing body is their use of direct testing.

While some agencies allow only random testing, direct testing means that the governing body can act on any suspicious or reported activity and test individuals accordingly.

Keeping our sport clean is ultimately a responsibility that falls on all of us, so if you see something, say something. If you suspect that someone may be using banned substances contact the sports governing body. For the CrossFit Games season use this email.

WADA-approved protocols are easy to follow. Your doping control agent will be very knowledgeable and should be able to answer any questions you may have along the way.

You’ll have to fill out some paperwork and you will be escorted by an agent of your gender to produce a urine and/or blood sample. For urine samples, the agent will ensure the area is clean and will watch as you produce the sample. For blood samples, the agent will sterilize your arm and extract a blood sample. Afterward, you will return to complete the paperwork.

Things to look out for:

All containers and packaging should be sealed

You should be allowed to select the test kit of your choosing

You should be allowed to choose the identifying sticker/barcode of your choosing

Your agent should be present during your sample collection

The areas where collection takes place should be cleaned prior to collection

Things you’ll need:

Government Identification

Enough fluids to produce a sample

Be aware:

If you produce a urine sample that is too diluted, you will need to wait and perform the test again. Avoid over-hydrating prior to a test.

If you have an award ceremony or other reason that will stop you from completing the test immediately, you will be assigned a chaperone to follow you until you complete the test.

If any of these things seem out of place, or you feel that your testing procedure was not acceptable in any way please contact the CrossFit Games Doping Control Liaison and submit your concern as soon as possible after the test.

Use the Drug Testing Policy as your guideline regarding any and all substances you choose to put into your body. Ultimately you are responsible for anything that you choose to put in your body so we recommend that you choose food and supplements from sources you trust.

We recommend you choose supplement brands that have third-party testing certifications like Informed Sport or NSF to reduce your risk.

Keep in mind there may be some distinction between “in competition” and “out of competition” restrictions on certain substances and that some common substances such as caffeine can be banned at high doses. Again, the Drug Testing Policy is your best reference in these cases.

We recommend that whenever you go to a doctor or naturopath and you’re offered a pill, powder, medication, needle or IV; make sure that whatever you are putting into your body is not on the banned substance list. Do not expect medical practitioners to know the Drug Testing Policy, you are required to do this research yourself.

In competitions, we recommend never using someone else’s water bottle or supplements, always having your bags with you, or locking them somewhere safe.

This ultimately is up to the governing body administering the test, so be careful. When in doubt, ask questions. In the functional fitness space often home tests or tests performed in your hotel room are considered “out of competition” and any testing done on a competition site could be considered “in competition”.

For the CrossFit Games season, tests are only considered “in competition” if they take place at CrossFit Games live events like the Semifinals or CrossFit Games.

There are Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) available for some medications prescribed by a medical professional to allow athletes to compete. Please note that not all medications can be exempt through this process, so please consult your Drug Testing Liaison as well as your doctor regarding options in this case. Start this process early, and if you are choosing to compete, inquire about a TUE before you start any new medications.

The supplement industry is loosely regulated. Contamination happens, and sometimes substances are included in products that don’t appear on the label. Your first layer of protection is always to either get your supplements third-party tested or use products that are certified by a testing group like NSF or Informed Sport.

Accidents and contamination unfortunately do happen. Many governing bodies have reduced sanctions if athletes are able to prove the positive test was a result of contamination. However, avoiding issues is always best since it can be a costly endeavor to have products tested to determine the source of the contamination after the fact. Testing one supplement for a banned substance can cost up to $1500 USD.