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BREAKING: Kuwait’s Nasser Alruwayeh Announces Positive PED Test, Will Not Travel to CrossFit Games

July 12, 2022 by

Kuwait’s Nasser Alruwayeh, the runner-up at the Far East Throwdown, announced on his Instagram account this morning that he tested positive for a banned substance and that he will not be attending the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games.

Alruwayeh was told via an email from CrossFit of his positive test for GW1516 (also known as cardarine and endurobol), a metabolic modulator. He also shared that he was working with a lab in the United States to identify the source of his positive test and he was planning on appealing the decision.

In a statement to the Morning Chalk Up, Alruwayeh said, “I am really sad and shocked at this news. I feel like a Ferrari that is ready for the race and now I don’t get to test myself. I am looking forward to a positive outcome from my appeal. Meanwhile all I can do is continue to train and become stronger.”

Alruwayeh denied any knowledge of taking the banned substance and said that his discussions with people who have knowledge of GW1516 said that it can be found in supplements and medicine.

The announcement by Alruwayeh is the third confirmed positive test by an individual Games qualifier in the last 24 hours. His test also brings the total number of confirmed positive tests to 14 from Semifinal testing:

  • Nasser Alruwayeh
  • Pedro Martins
  • Phil Toon
  • Nycolas Joyal
  • Hunter Williams – ​​CrossFit CLT
  • Stephen Wallace – Blues City CrossFit Gold
  • Lize Burns – CrossFit Commit Okavango
  • Jaylond Franklin – CrossFit Shoofly Storm Squadron
  • Toby Johnson – Koda CrossFit United
  • Sabrina Dellagustina – CrossFit Q21
  • Ines Alviso – KingBull CrossFit Paraguay
  • Mike Catris – CrossFit Aylesbury
  • Team member from Team CrossFit Ribeirao
  • Team member from CF Berrini Team Treta

Remind me: Alruwayeh earned his Games qualifying spot after coming out of nowhere this Games season and finishing as the runner-up to Roman Khrennikov at the Far East Throwdown Semifinal in South Korea. The former WWE wrestler became the first Kuwaiti to qualify for the Games through a Semifinal.

Russian Arthur Semenov, the third place finisher at the Far East Throwdown, shared an email from CrossFit on his Instagram story this morning showing an invitation to this year’s Games.

Instagram Story Showing Backfill Invitation to 2022 CrossFit Games for Arthur Semenov | @arthur.semenov

The bottom line: Alruwayeh’s announcement continues a troubling trend of positive tests coming out of Semifinal testing. There are still a number of Semifinal drug tests submitted to Drug Free Sport that have not been disclosed at the time of publication of this article. His positive test is the fourth overall by an individual Games qualifier after just one athlete testing positive for PEDs last season.

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