If you have seen yesterday's post, you already know that a December the famous competition will be held in Dubai. We had anticipated that the athletes who will participate they will not have to qualify, but will be personally invited by the event management.
You cannot understand our surprise to learn that the organizers of the Dubai CrossFit® Championship they have seen fit to make a special request to none other than Ricky Garard!
The controversial athlete did not think twice and, of course, accepted the invitation.
This will be the first CrossFit® competition in which it will participate, after serving the 4-year sports ban imposed on him in 2017.
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Just to remind you who Ricky Garard is ...
Ricky Garard is a controversial figure in our sport! It tested positive for testolone and endurobol (both banned substances), at the 2017 CrossFit® Games, where he finished third.
He was punished with a four-year ban, which means he couldn't compete in any CrossFit® event until October 3, 2021.
Garard hasn't never hidden his desire to return to the field and challenge his colleagues, he often posted videos of his scores as he rehearsed the Open, Sanctional and Semifinals. He even tried the Games wods, simulating being in the race.
Then he posted his (unofficial) results from the first round of the 2020 CrossFit® Games, where all the athletes competed online directly from their boxes and homegym, stating that his scores would place him in fifth place.
In 2020, however, Garard provoked Mathew Fraser asking him not to withdraw:
“Wait f *** for me. I arrive. @mathewfras, in more polite words, please don't retire. I want to compete with the best again ”.
The controversial return of Ricky Garard
Garard will be the first major athlete in the individuals category to return to competitions after serving a suspension for doping.
Il his return is already raising some questions for two reasons: the first is that it is not clear with what frequency has been tested in the last four years and besides, many believe that he doesn't really deserve the invitation at one of the most prestigious CrossFit® events.
There would be many other athletes on the scene who deserve to participate and who trained hard without doing too many "The smart ones".
It must be said that we know that Garard has been tested at least once in the last four years. CrossFit® announced in March that it had tested him and that his results were negative.
Here are some of his words about stopping and taking prohibited substances:
