The Sport of Fitness Podcast

“There are some pretty extreme situations out there that we don’t want to have as a barrier for people who legitimately want to qualify and compete. Those were the problems we’re trying to solve with this exemption region, is how do we take care of particularly the athletes that are going to have to travel for Semifinals and the Games? How do we take care of those athletes that find themselves on the margins of this citizenship qualification process?.” — Adrian BozmanAthlete Communications Manager and CrossFit Coach (CF-L4) Becky Harsh and Competition Director Adrian Bozman join host Chase Ingraham to talk about competition region exemptions.New for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games season, individual athletes who reside in a region outside of their country of citizenship and believe they may advance to an in-person Semifinal competition were able to request an exemption to be placed in a different competition region.Harsh and Bozman give insight into how and why this exemption process came about, and review and clarify the process from start to finish, digging into the criteria and information athletes needed to provide in their application.The pair also share examples of cases they viewed this year and encourage anyone with questions to reach out for further information and clarification.Learn more about competition region exemptions and other uncommon situations in Section 1.09 of the 2023 Rulebook at games.crossfit.com/rules.Presented by NOBULL.

“The worldwide ranking will have an effect on how many final positions there are out of your Semifinals and into the Games, but the process of getting (to the Games) has not changed.” — Adrian Bozman Competition Director Adrian Bozman and Senior Manager of the Competition Team Dave Eubanks join the podcast to explain the strength-of-field calculation for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games season.Last episode, Bozman and Eubanks described a new worldwide ranking system — a sliding two-year span of data where athletes earn points based on their performances during the Games season — and explained that one of the system’s functions would be to finalize the number of Games-qualifying spots for each Semifinal event.Each competition region has the opportunity to add to its minimum number of guaranteed Games-qualifying position(s).(Watch “Worldwide Ranking System Explained” here → https://youtu.be/bsXOGSnZGeM) CrossFit will use the top 100 athletes in the worldwide rankings* after the 2023 Quarterfinals to determine the relative strength of field at each Semifinal.In this episode, Eubanks and Bozman fully break down the formula — based on the D’Hondt method — used to calculate the strength of field, and give an example of how it will work. The pair also give insight into how the D’Hondt method was chosen and why the top 100 athletes in the worldwide ranking is the pool size used in the calculation.Learn more about the strength-of-field calculation and see it in action with a hypothetical distribution of the top 100 women here → https://games.crossfit.com/article/strength-field-explained Sign up for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open at games.crossfit.com.*Note: the top 100 in the worldwide rankings are based on the previous two years of competition results. This list is not simply the top 100 athletes from the 2023 Quarterfinals competition.Presented by NOBULL.

“The basic system is very simple — as athletes compete through the season, they can gain points for each stage of the season that they compete in. Obviously, you’re gonna get more points for placing higher and less points for placing lower, and your worldwide ranking will be determined based on the total number of points that you’ve accumulated over the season, or in this case, two years.” — Adrian BozmanA new worldwide ranking system was recently introduced for the 2023 CrossFit Games season.Using a sliding two-year span of data, athletes will earn points — based on their performances during the four stages of competition — that will be used to calculate their ranking. Available points will increase as athletes advance through the season. One of the worldwide ranking system’s functions will be to determine the final number of Games-qualifying spots at each Semifinal event.In this episode, Competition Director Adrian Bozman and Senior Manager of the Competition Team Dave Eubanks join host Chase Ingraham to explain this new system in depth and give insight into the thinking and decision-making behind this new process.Hear from Boz and Eubanks as they break down the point system, explaining how athletes will earn points during each stage of the season and how many are up for grabs, and briefly explain how this ranking system will be used to determine the strength of field at Semifinal competitions.Learn more about why athletes will be ranked on a worldwide level during the Open and Quarterfinals, and how points will be allocated during the Semifinal and Games stages.In order to earn points toward your ranking, you’ve got to play. It all starts with the CrossFit Open.Sign up today for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open at open.crossfit.com.

“(Adrian Bozman) is probably about to dose us up with what we’re missing or what he thinks we’re missing.” — Adrian ConwayFormer CrossFit Games athlete and coachAdrian Conway joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast this week to review the newly released equipment list for the online stages of the 2023 season and talk about how to prepare for the upcoming CrossFit Open.“The equipment list for not just the Open — that’s the thing. The equipment list just got unveiled from CrossFit, and it said ‘All Online Competition’ equipment list.” — Chase IngrahamThe launch of early registration for the Open and the recent unveiling of the equipment list for the online stages of competition provide affiliate owners, athletes, and coaches an opportunity to get ready for the upcoming season.In this episode, Conway offers ways athletes can begin prepping for the Open, noting that consistency is a great place to start. Conway and Ingraham also break down the equipment list in full detail and let their imaginations run wild, sharing their ideas for new “outside-of-the-box” movements that the community might see this season.Are you ready to party? Sign up for the CrossFit Open today at games.crossfit.com.Presented by Wilde Brands. Get 20% off your first order at wildebrands.com using code WILDEFIT20.

“What we really aspire people to leave with regardless if they’re showing up as a spectator or as a competitor is (to) really embrace the community. … Take the focus off of yourself a little bit, regardless of what stake you play, and invest in other people and watch other people compete. … Everybody can inspire you. ”Wodapalooza (WZA), co-founded by Peak 360 CrossFit owner Guido Trinidad, began as a one-day fitness competition in Miami in 2012. Since then, the competition has evolved into a four-day fitness festival, uniting the local Florida community and athletes from around the world in a celebration of fitness, community, and life.Trinidad joins host Chase Ingraham to dive into the competition’s 11th season, running Jan. 12 through Jan. 15.In this episode, Trinidad reflects on the evolution of the event, its impact on the CrossFit community, and how it remains true to the ethos of the competition.He also shares the importance of providing an excellent experience for everyone participating in the event — not just athletes — and hopes the competition will continue providing “an experience unlike anything else” to the community.New this year due to the design of the schedule, individual athletes will also be able to compete in the team division. Trinidad gives his insight on the team competition and how he approaches programming to provide athletes with a mental and physical challenge that is safe, fun, and exciting. Find out more about why Wodapalooza is such a well-known and special competition, and what Trinidad is most looking forward to this year.Can’t experience Wodapalooza in person? Watch the live stream on YouTube and/or the CrossFit Games website to be part of the action.Presented by O2 Recovery.

“How can we Tetris together seven different events over every continent in the world that does then fit in to meet the criteria for a great location, great test, and a great community and athlete experience?”Senior Manager of Events John McLaughlin — better known as JMac in the community — drops in on the podcast to discuss the recent announcement of CrossFit Semifinal locations. CrossFit has worked toward releasing information about the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games season early to give the community ample time to plan and prepare ahead of the new year. Most recently, locations for Semifinals — the third stage of competition — were released through the Hopper.Read more here → https://games.crossfit.com/article/2023-nobull-crossfit-games-semifinalsIn this episode, McLaughlin sheds light on what key factors played a role in selecting venues for Semifinals around the globe, citing venue availability, competition footprint, and spectator and athlete experience as part of the considerations.CrossFit also announced this year that the number of Semifinal events would be reduced from 10 to seven, all with standardized programming and with CrossFit running the North American and European Semifinals. After reviewing the locations and schedule, McLaughlin provides insight on these changes and CrossFit’s connection and role in supporting the additional four Semifinal competitions.To close out the show, McLaughlin shares what he’s most looking forward to in the new year, especially during the Semifinals stage of competition.Subscribe to the Hopper and sign up for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open at games.crossfit.com.Presented by Wilde Brands. Get 20% off your first order at wildebrands.com using code WILDEFIT20.

“It’s just what we do. We do things that make us uncomfortable, we do things that challenge us because we know they make us better. And that is the Open. That is CrossFit.” — Adam NeifferNicole Christensen, owner of CrossFit Roots and CF-L4 trainer, and Adam Neiffer, owner of CrossFit Fort Vancouver and coach to two-time Fittest Man on Earth Justin Medeiros, pop in on the podcast to share their insights on the CrossFit Open, why they encourage others to participate, and how they create an exciting atmosphere for their members.The 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open is quickly approaching and as longtime affiliate owners, Christensen and Neiffer have a bank of ways to make the competition fun and memorable.After sharing what gets them excited about the Open, the pair gives a plethora of examples of activities and competitions they’ve run alongside the Open — such as an intramural competition, talent shows, and trivia games — that make the experience more enjoyable and fosters a supportive, encouraging, and unified culture inside their gyms.With a diverse level of athletes training at their affiliates, Christensen and Neiffer also provide insight on how they balance the competition for everyday athletes and competitive athletes, agreeing that it’s “easy.”“I think the Open does such a good job — and especially the last few years — of making it accessible for not just adaptive athletes, but foundations athletes, scaled, Rx’d,” Neiffer says. “Everybody gets to play and finding the right version is easy because it’s already done for us. It’s just a matter of supporting each person at the gym as an individual, and that’s no different from what we do every day in the gym.”Throughout the podcast, the group also touches on how the Open can be a motivator and catalyst for strengthening relationships among their members, explains how the Open offers athletes an opportunity to set up goals for the new year, and gives advice on how to coach and guide athletes who are hesitant to participate in the competition.Sign up for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games today at games.crossfit.com. Presented by O2 Hydration.

“What makes (the Open) worth it is all the things we’ve been talking about so far — the camaraderie, the fact that anybody can do it. What a confidence boost to take anybody who’s not athletic, isn’t particularly health-conscious, and over the course of time they can enter into something like this and see success, whatever that looks like to them. Maybe it’s just the fact that they did it … and that’s worth far more than any combination of movements that’s gonna come out of the Hopper.” — Adrian BozmanCrossFit CEO Don Faul and Competition Director Adrian Bozman join host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to share their favorite and worst memories from the Open, their personal reasons for competing, and why they encourage the global community to participate in 2023.The 13th annual 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open is quickly approaching, and registration for the three-week worldwide competition, beginning Feb. 16, is now open.After reminiscing on their first Open experiences, the trio explains the importance of the affiliate’s role in the competition, highlighting the benefits of a built-in support system with members of the gym and expert coaching from trainers who can support and encourage members to get out of their comfort zones.Bozman also reflects on past live Open announcements, including 21.3 at CrossFit Hendersonville, and discusses plans for next year’s workout announcements. He also shares what people can expect from the programming and explains challenges that come with planning for such a large, inclusive competition.Faul and Bozman also explain how the competition’s registration fee helps support the CrossFit ecosystem and why it is important to CrossFit’s future success.For anyone feeling apprehensive about signing up for the Open, Bozman offers his insight, saying, “It’s really what you do every day. … There’s nothing new there.”Throughout the podcast, the group reminds listeners why the Open is such a special and unique competition, and closes out the show sharing their most challenging Open workout experiences.Whether it’s to support the CrossFit ecosystem, get out of your comfort zone, or to see if your hard work all year has been paying off, sign up for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open today at games.crossfit.com.Presented by Wilde Chips. Get 20% off your first order on wildebrands.com with code: WILDEFIT20.

“From an athlete perspective, it can get very, very frustrating trying to plan your season, trying to plan your training, not knowing what’s going on, so the real goal here was to support the athletes as best as possible in a world where it’s unknown and unknowable most of the time.” — Becky HarshAthlete Communications Manager Becky Harsh joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to review new changes to the 2023 CrossFit Competition Rulebook and discuss her role as a liaison between CrossFit and athletes.Transparency and early communication between CrossFit and the community has become a priority, and as Athlete Communications Manager, Harsh has been working closely with athlete committees to ensure their voices are heard.One step forward has been the earlier-than-ever release of the 2023 Competition Rulebook to allow athletes a chance to plan appropriately for the upcoming season.Harsh and Ingraham discuss region selection (Section 1.08), including the division of North America into East and West, and how athletes can petition for citizenship exemption (Section 1.09), noting a firm due date to file.The pair also dive into team eligibility and team rosters (Sections 1.14 and 2.04) for Quarterfinals, Open score submission and validation (Sections 1.20 and 1.21), and the truncated Quarterfinals schedule (Section 2.06).The Rulebook also includes a new “Appeals” section for individual and team athletes competing at Semifinals (Section 4.10) with an explanation of a two-appeal rule provision, and explains the backfill process for the CrossFit Games (Section 6.02).Finally, CrossFit is awarding a complimentary Level 1 or Level 2 course to the top five finishers in all adaptive divisions and to all individual, team (excluding alternates), and age-group athletes who qualify, register, and complete the on-site Athlete Registration at the CrossFit Games (Appendix C).For full season details, refer to the official 2023 Competition Rulebook at games.crossfit.com/rules.Questions or concerns? Email support@crossfitgames.com.

“What we are ready to talk about is how many minimum qualifiers we’re looking at out of Semifinals, how many leftover spots there are gonna be, and broadly, how we’re gonna divide those up worldwide.” — Adrian BozmanIn this episode, Director of Sport Adrian Bozman and Senior Manager of the Competition Team Dave Eubanks chat with host Chase Ingraham about Games-qualifying spots for the 2023 season and the new worldwide ranking system.Recent details about the upcoming CrossFit Games season discussed the removal of the Last-Chance Qualifier competition, changes to the amount of Semifinal competitions in North America and Europe, and the guaranteed minimum number of designated Games-qualifying spots for each Semifinal.Bozman and Eubanks review the Games-qualifying spots for each Semifinal and also describe the new worldwide ranking system — a model that uses data from the previous two years of CrossFit stages of competition to rank athletes — that will determine how many additional Games spots will be allocated from Semifinals.The pair dig into the intention and process behind creating the ranking system and the basic framework for determining the strength of field and share what they’re most excited to see this season as a result of the new model.Presented by goodr Sunglasses.

“(If) we want to be (at the Games) in 2024, it’s gonna take this year to do that. And even though it may look like there’s less (of) an opportunity, there’s a more significant opportunity, and it’s gonna have a larger level of impact on what we do moving forward simply by just showing up and signing up for the (2023) Open.” — Tom MiazgaAccessibility and Adaptive Sport Specialist Alec Zirkenbach, 2022 Men’s Seated With Hip Function champion Tom Miazga, and Competition Director Adrian Bozman join host Chase Ingraham on the latest episode to discuss updates to the 2023 Adaptive CrossFit Games season as well as the growth of and goals for the adaptive division in 2024 and beyond.Some of the changes to the new adaptive season include a new scaled leaderboard for the CrossFit Open, the ability to verify eligibility for adaptive divisions prior to registering for the Open, and the removal of the Semifinal stage of competition.Zirkenbach explains how the collection of data over the 2022 season, including feedback from specific adaptive committees and the community, helped inform some of the decisions for the upcoming season.Miazga, an adaptive athlete and CrossFit Games commentator, provides his perspective on the new season structure and the representation of all adaptive divisions at the 2024 Games.“I can understand why people would be frustrated,” Miazga says about athletes in five adaptive divisions being crowned the fittest at the end of the 2023 Open.“I think this is necessary in order to get to where we want to be,” Miazga continues, “and the idea of (all adaptive divisions being at the Games) in 2024 is something I’m motivated by.”Bozman reviews adjustments to the season, which will be detailed in the official Rulebook, and also offers his insight on the season structure.“That was a hard decision to make,” Bozman says about eliminating Semifinals.“Nobody wants less, however, we expect that this is gonna be a really positive step if people have the patience to see it through and see what we can get going in 2024 with full visibility and full representation,” he says.The group also chats about Rinse ‘N’ Repeat from the 2022 Games — an event that was identical across all divisions — the possible addition of adaptive divisions in the future, and how CrossFit can benefit athletes of all sports and people of all ability levels.Sponsored by O2.

“The influence I’m going to bring to it, my history with CrossFit, who I am — it’ll be unavoidable to have some of that in there, but at the end of the day it’s not about me as the programmer. … It’s important to get the programming right. It’s important to have a test that makes sense from early stages through the most advanced stages, it’s important that you can see that progression not just through the season but through the history of the sport, but I don’t think it’s important at all that it has anything to do with me.” — Adrian Bozman on programming the 2023 season.Competition Director Adrian Bozman joins the podcast to provide more details and clarity on the updates made to the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games season.Notable changes to the upcoming CrossFit Games season have been announced and Bozman touches on many of them, including the number of Semifinal competitions, eligibility requirements for teams, standardized programming at Semifinals, and Games-qualifying spots relative to the strength of field.Bozman describes how and why the division of North America into two regions came to be, gives insight into why country of citizenship will continue to be used to determine where an athlete will compete in Semifinals, and briefly explains a petition of exemption process for athletes who haven’t lived in their country of citizenship as it relates to Semifinals. More details to follow.Bozman also explains why programming at Semifinals will be standardized and digs into the power-ranking system as it relates to Games-qualifying spots, noting there will be a minimum number of Games-qualifying spots guaranteed at each Semifinal.The competition director also reviews the truncated Quarterfinal schedule, how many age-group athletes will advance to the Games from the Semifinals, and Open requirements for teams to meet eligibility for competition.Stay updated on details for the 2023 CrossFit Games season here → https://games.crossfit.com/article/2023-crossfit-games-season-updates

“What you should start expecting from CrossFit is that we are going to share CrossFit with more people with the goal of more people doing CrossFit with a coach in an affiliate. … I’m excited that we’re doing it with athletes and really honoring that experience.” — Justin BerghGeneral Manager of Sport Justin Bergh joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to give further insight on some of the changes to the 2023 CrossFit Games season and CrossFit’s goals for the years ahead.Season details have been released earlier than ever. After a recap of the 2022 season, Bergh discusses the motivation behind the early announcement and the importance of creating a more positive, enjoyable experience for athletes and the CrossFit community.The structure and number of Semifinals have also changed. Bergh explains why the number of events was reduced and how CrossFit will take ownership of the programming at each competition. He also gives more details about the minimum number of Games-qualifying spots and the strength of field.Bergh’s recent experience competing at a local CrossFit competition for the first time not only made him excited for the upcoming Open, but he also gained perspective from an athlete’s point of view.“I have way greater appreciation with (what) the athletes go through. I have better empathy for the athlete experience that has really opened my eyes to how much we can offer and how much progress we need to make there in order for (CrossFit) to really grow,” Bergh says.Additional details for the 2023 CrossFit Games season will be announced. Stay up to date by visiting Games.CrossFit.com and signing up for the monthly Hopper newsletter.

“I was losing it. I truly was actin’ a fool down on the floor. … I was wanting to yell, and scream, and say things like ‘you got this,’ and I felt like a kid in a candy store, that’s how excited I was.” — Adrian ConwayGames athletes Dan Bailey and Adrian Conway join host Evelyn Curry for a recap of Day 4 at the 2022 NOBULL Crossfit Games.The group runs down the day’s events, diving deeper into the swim, the individual dumbbell squat snatch, and the 1-rep-max sandbag events.The trio also highlights notable performances from the athletes, including Dani Speegle’s and the individual men’s performances in Sandbag Ladder, and the excitement from the unique Coliseum event.Curry, Bailey, and Conway close out the podcast detailing what to expect on the final day of competition.

"I think today is one of the most fun days I've ever had at the CrossFit Games." — Evelyn CurryMultiyear CrossFit Games athletes Adrian Conway and Dan Bailey join host Evelyn Curry on the podcast to recap the best moments of Day 3 at the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games.The trio shares their favorite moments from the day, including the memorable event at the capitol building and the announcement of the block handstand push-up.The group also highlights impressive athlete performances from the day and what's coming up in Day 4.

"If after Friday evening, you all are very, very upset at the programming … you need to go read the Level 1 manual. There’s a site called CrossFit.com. You can download the PDF, and you will have a better understanding, or a more complete understanding, of what we’re trying to do here, why things are the way they are, and why the tests that are coming are great, awesome tests for these athletes." — Dan BaileyMultiyear Games athletes Dan Bailey and Adrian Conway join host Evelyn Curry on the podcast to recap Days 1 and 2 of the individual competition at the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games.The trio discuss the design and innovation of this year’s tests and programming, surprising performances from rookies and Games veterans, including Ricky Garard and Emma Lawson, and what to expect on Day 3 of the competition.

“This is the most important relationship that we have. We’re CrossFitters, we are fans of the sport, we are members of affiliates, we’ve been through the last five, eight years just like everyone else has, and we’re more excited for the future than we have been.” — Todd Meleney, Chief Marketing Officer of NOBULLChief Marketing Officer of NOBULL Todd Meleney joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to discuss NOBULL’s partnership with CrossFit and the future of the company in the sport.Meleney opens up about NOBULL’s beginnings in the CrossFit space, becoming the title sponsor of the CrossFit Games, and working closely with CrossFit to ensure a positive experience and thriving future for both parties, including the CrossFit community and athletes.Recently, NOBULL announced replica jerseys for purchase that will don the names of Games athletes. Meleney explains the creation and production of the new athlete jerseys and how they are supporting the athletes, the influence from fans in making the jerseys, and the goal for the product in the future.Looking ahead to the CrossFit Games next week, there are plenty of NOBULL-sponsored activities to get involved with in Madison, according to Meleney.NOBULL will host community workouts at Olin Park, affiliate-only events to connect with affiliate owners, and a BBQ for members of NOBULL’s loyalty program The Chipper. NOBULL and CrossFit athletes Sydney Wells and Alec Smith will also host community workouts, as well as former NFL athlete Curt Maggitt. Fans can also expect to see new products on the field.In London, CrossFit enthusiasts can head to Rosslyn Park for the CrossFit Games London Fanzone Experience.Throughout the podcast, Meleney opens up about how NOBULL and its products have grown over the years, the importance of CrossFit in its continued evolution, and NOBULL’s vision to continue working with CrossFit to support the professionalization of the sport.Presented by NOBULL.

"These are not meant to be workouts. … The goal here is not to leave that competition floor pushing the needle forward with your fitness. ... What is supposed to happen is that you're supposed to take what you've been training all year and see what you can do with what's put in front of you." —Adrian BozmanCrossFit Director of Competition Adrian Bozman joins the podcast to discuss the theory behind programming for the CrossFit Games — the ultimate test of fitness.After 15 years of programming by Dave Castro, the Games will now be designed with Bozman at the helm.Bozman shares his approach to programming and outlines what goes into creating a well-balanced test of fitness when the goal is to find the Fittest on Earth. He also opens up about his objectives for the competition, not only for the athletes but for the fans and spectators as well.Bozman also shares the cut schedule for the individuals and teams at this year’s Games — age-group and adaptive athletes will not be cut.The cut process started in 2009 and has been carried out intermittently since. Bozman explains the rationale behind the process.For anyone expecting something new and unique at this year’s Games, Bozman says, “There are a few things that are unique as far as equipment (and) format, which I'm really excited about.”During the podcast, Chase Ingraham and Bozman also discuss the impact of an athlete’s size on programming, how the athletes and sport have evolved since the inception of the Games, and how the tests at the competition differ from regular training workouts.Learn more about Bozman’s approach to programming, how cuts will affect individuals and teams, and what unique elements athletes and fans can expect to see this year.

“I think with the team side, there are some unique things to consider. … A combination of men and women, how they work together, how they communicate, the way they’re training leading up to competition, how they were able to build their individual fitness all year long. … There are so many more variables with teams than there are with individuals.” — Adrian ConwayMulti-year Affiliate Cup champion Adrian Conway joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to talk about team competition and what it’s going to take to beat Affiliate Cup reigning champion CrossFit Mayhem at the CrossFit Games.Having captained a CrossFit Games affiliate to victory against Mayhem and also having experience as an individual competitor, Conway shares his knowledge and experiences competing in both divisions. He weighs in on the varying degrees of pressure, discusses the differences between four- and six-person teams, and reflects on what he’s learned over the years to maximize his team’s and his own potential.Conway and Ingraham discuss balancing strategy, teamwork, and fitness in team programming, and how and what athletes should be tested on to determine the fittest affiliate on Earth. They also note challenges athletes can face working as a unit, and identify mental and physical characteristics that make a formidable team member.The duo close out the podcast by sharing their best strategies for defeating CrossFit Mayhem. Conway and Ingraham highlight events and movements that tend to favor the dominant affiliate, note the advantages of confidence and momentum on the competition floor, and acknowledge the impact of a flawless performance.Will anyone beat CrossFit Mayhem? Tune in to the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games, Aug. 3-7, to find out.

“We’re not trying to protect the athletes, we’re trying to protect the claim. And the best thing we can do to protect the claim is to test the athletes.” — Justin BerghGeneral Manager of Sport Justin Bergh and Athlete Relationship Manager Kurtis Bowler join host Chase Ingraham and Adrian Conway on the podcast for an extensive discussion about CrossFit’s drug-testing protocol, recent positive test results among top-performing athletes, and best practices to prevent positive results in the future.During the 2022 CrossFit season, a number of athletes have tested positive for banned substances, including CrossFit Games qualifiers. To protect the integrity of the competition and its athletes, CrossFit strongly enforces an anti-doping policy.In the podcast, Bergh and Bowler thoroughly explain the drug-testing process that athletes undergo. They also explain how athletes can appeal their drug violation and how Games spots are backfilled should a Games qualifier test positive for a banned substance.Bergh also explains CrossFit’s mission to ensure that all athletes are able to compete on an even playing field, protecting its integrity as a sport and the claim of finding the Fittest on Earth.As a former collegiate athlete and a Games competitor who’s been drug tested, Conway shares his experiences with the process and gives his opinion on being a responsible athlete in a professional sport.In an attempt to help the CrossFit community, Bowler offers guidance on how athletes can better familiarize themselves with CrossFit’s Drug Testing Policy and as well as advice on how to better educate themselves about the supplements they’re taking.Bowler encourages athletes to reach out to CrossFit’s team with any and all questions, advises athletes to read supplement labels, and urges athletes subscribe to “The Hopper,” which contains informative literature about the competition and drug-testing policy for the community and competitive athletes.Bergh and Bowler also list the most common banned substances found in positive results, weigh in on the severity of the penalty imposed on the athlete, and address the misconception that CrossFit protects athletes by not disclosing positive tests.For more information on CrossFit’s Drug Policy, visit games.crossfit.com/drug-testing and/or reach out to drugtesting@crossfitgames.com.