• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • Strength
    • Best Home Gym Machines
      • Best Functional Trainers
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Budget Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Cable Machines
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Smith Machines
      • Best Smart Home Gyms
    • Best Barbells
      • Best Budget Exercise Bikes
      • Best Budget Barbells
      • Best Powerlifting Barbells
      • Best Barbells For Women
    • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Adjustable Kettlebells
    • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
    • More Strength Equipement
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Weight Plates
      • Best Bumper Plates
      • Best Slam Balls
      • Best Weighted Vests
      • Best Weight Sleds
      • All Other Strength Equipment
    • Training
      • Exercise Guides
        • Deadlift
        • Bench Press
        • Back Squat
        • Overhead Press
        • Lat Pulldown
        • Shoulder Exercises
        • Chest Exercises
        • Ab Exercises
        • Quad Exercises
        • Biceps Exercises
      • Training Guides
        • Beginner’s Guide to the Gym
        • How to Build Muscle
        • Guide to Muscle Hypertrophy
        • How to Train on a Cut
      • Workouts
        • Back Workouts
        • At-Home Workouts
        • Chest & Back Workouts
        • Full-Body Workout
        • HIIT Workouts
        • Bodybuilding Workouts
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
      • Programs
        • 5×5 Program
        • Bodybuilding Programs
        • Push-Up Program
        • Pull-Up Program
        • 5/3/1 Program
        • Powerbuilding Program
        • German Volume Training
        • Build Your Own Program
    • News
      • CrossFit
      • Strongman
      • Bodybuilding
      • Powerlifting
      • Weightlifting
      • HYROX
    • Individual Strength Equipment Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
      • Best Pre-Workout for Women
      • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
      • Strongest Pre-Workouts
    • Best Protein
      • Best Protein Powder for Men
      • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Powder For Women
      • Best Tasting Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Bars
      • Protein by Goal
        • Best Mass Gainer
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain
        • Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
      • Protein by Diet
        • Best Egg White Protein Powder
        • Best Keto Protein Powder
        • Best Organic Protein Powder
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
    • Best Creatine
      • Best Creatine Gummies
      • Best Creatine For Women
      • Best Creatine for Men
    • Best BCAA’s
      • Best BCAA’s for Women
    • Best Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Women
      • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Men
    • Other Nutrition Products
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
        • Best Greens Powder for Pregnancy
      • Best Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Budget Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss
        • Best Paleo Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Multivitamins for Women
        • Best Multivitamins for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
        • Best Multivitamins
    • Guides
      • Diets
        • Carb Cycling
        • Vertical Diet
        • Reverse Dieting
        • Carnivore Diet
        • Ketogenic Diet
        • Intermittent Fasting
        • IIFYM Diet
      • Muscle Gain
        • How to Dirty Bulk
        • Go From Cutting to Bulking
        • Eat These Carbs
        • How to Eat for Muscle
      • Fat Loss
        • Macros for Fat Loss
        • Calorie Deficits
        • Natural Fat Burners
        • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
      • Supplement Guides
        • Pre-Workout
        • Whey Protein
        • Mass Gainers
        • Greens Powders
        • Creatine
        • BCAAs
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
    • Individual Supplement Reviews
  • Conditioning
    • Best Treadmills
      • Best Manual Treadmills
      • Best Compact Treadmills
      • Best Budget Treadmills
      • Best Treadmills Under $2000
      • Best Treadmills Under $1000
      • Best Treadmills For Tall People
      • Best Commercial Treadmills
      • Best Curved Treadmills
      • Best Under Desk Treadmills
    • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Water Rowing Machines
      • Best Budget Rowing Machines
      • Best Compact Rowing Machines
      • Best Foldable Rowing Machines
      • Best Air Rowing Machines
    • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Best Folding Exercise Bikes
      • Best Exercise Bikes For Seniors
      • Best Air Bikes
    • Best Ellipticals
      • Best Budget Ellipticals
      • Best Compact Ellipticals
      • Best Rear Driving Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals For Seniors
      • Best Under Desk Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals Under $1000
    • Other Conditioning Products
      • Best Jump Ropes
      • Best Plyometric Boxes
      • Best Speed Sleds
      • Best Agility Ladders
      • Best Vertical Climbers
      • Best Commercial Stair Climbers
      • Best Affordable Stair Climbers
    • Individual Cardio Equipment Reviews
  • Recovery
    • Best Cold Plunges
    • Best Saunas
      • Best Infrared Sauna
    • Best Massage Guns
      • Best Mini-Massage Guns
    • Best Compression Boots
    • Best Back Massagers
    • Best Massage Chairs
    • Other Recovery Tools
      • Best Inversion Tables
      • Best Vibrating Massage Rollers
      • Best Massage Balls
      • Best Ice Wraps
      • Best Foam Rollers
    • Recovery Guides
  • Fitness Accessories
    • Fitness Tech
      • Best Fitness Apps
        • Best Weightlifting Apps
        • Best Workout Programs
        • Best Cycling Apps
        • Best Treadmills Apps
        • Best Workout Streaming Services
        • Best Workout Apps
        • Best Running Apps
    • Best Bluetooth Earbuds
    • Best Digital Scales
      • Best Smart Scales
    • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Heart Rate Monitors
      • Best Pedometers
      • Best Stopwatches
    • Apparel
      • Best Running Shoes
      • Best Weightlifting Shoes
      • Best Cross Training Shoes
      • Best Gym Shorts
      • Best Sports Bras
      • Best Trail Running Shoes
    • Support Gear
      • Best Lifting Straps
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Lifting Chalk
      • Best Dip Belts
      • Best Pull Up Assist Bands
      • Best Lifting Belts
  • Community Forum
Home » News » Ricky Garard Responds to Failed Banned Substance Test

Ricky Garard Responds to Failed Banned Substance Test

Written by Jake Boly, CSCS
Last updated on July 31st, 2023

Last night, it came to light that Australian CrossFit Games athlete Ricky Garard, 23, had tested positive for banned substances, including testolone and endurobol. Testolone is a SARM, or selective androgen receptor modulator. SARMs are on WADA’s banned substance list, and have grown in usage for their anabolic, fat loss, and reduced muscle wasting properties.

Garard is now the first ever CrossFit Games podium finisher to be stripped of their medal and forfeit the prize money. He finished third in the individual men’s competition and will lose his $76,000 USD in total prize money. Additionally, Garard is now banned from formal CrossFit competition until the 2021 CrossFit season, along with having his 2017 CrossFit Reebok Invitational rescinded.

In a lengthy two Instagram posts, Garard shared his thoughts and reactions to the news that dropped last night. We’ve embedded the full two posts; check them out below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ricky Mac 🇦🇺 (@rickygarard)

“As you can appreciate my world has come crashing down, it is heart breaking & it’s hard to comprehend that I am in this position.

On the pursuit of becoming all I could be as a CrossFit athlete, I have obviously taken the rules & boundaries to the very edge. I looked into, researched & was willing to dabble into ways that could improve my performance legally & within the rules, with no intention whatsoever to be a cheat.

I was taking the same supplements at The CrossFit Games as I did at The Pacific Regionals. Therefore, I didn’t feel the need to change anything. I thought I was legitimately competing within the rules with no unfair advantage over others. But, after further investigation & very specific testing it has been revealed that my research has failed me & I have received a positive test for SARMS. To be clear these supplements were taken in tablet form with nothing ever injected. Everyone in life makes mistakes, it’s how you learn from them that separates the great from the mediocre. These actions don’t define me, this sport doesn’t define me.

It’s the lessons & growth of my character that truly matter. In time, I know this will be the best thing that ever happened to me. I wanted the title, I wanted to win & I was willing to do everything in my power to achieve that goal. Not for one second should you take away the hard work, sacrifice & dedication of my efforts.

At 23 years old I have a lot of years left in my life, I have endured the process & I have become something because of it. In the end, I am apart of their sport, The CrossFit Games. They have rules, guidelines & policies to abide by. I have unintentionally fucked up, their evidence has proven me guilty & I will own my actions day by day for the rest of my life. 
I really hope The CrossFit Games continues to tighten up their testing procedures, enforce the same level of strictness to all other competitors like they have to me & they continue to strive towards a legit drug free sport. It’s tough to be on the receiving end when I know and have seen other top athletes in the sport intentionally out smarting the system, getting away with it & ruining the integrity of the sport.

Because of this outcome I will learn a lot about myself, wipe my tears & be accountable for every single decision I make in this life. Ultimately that is what it means to be a man. 
I am reminding myself that sometimes life seems to be destroying you when it’s actually saving you, time will only reveal what it’s saving me from?

Haters will hate, and that’s ok. They are entitled to express their insecurities to the world. I will focus & deal with what is within my control.

This news is heavy, it’s real, but I will get myself together and keep moving forward. 
Sorry to anyone I have affected personally & sorry to anyone that is sharing my pain. I trust that the people closest to me will understand, remain loyal and be there to support me. 

I am coming to terms that nothing will ever be given to me in life, I know how to earn it the hard way & I will do just that for whatever it is I pursue next.”

Feature image from @rickygarard Instagram page. 

About Jake Boly, CSCS

Jake holds a Master's in Sports Science and a Bachelor's in Exercise Science. Jake formerly served as BarBend's Fitness and Training Editor.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest Reviews

Featured image for the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review

Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review (2025): Our Expert’s New Favorite FID Bench

Titan T3 Power Rack Review

Titan T3 Power Rack Review (2025): An Expert-Approved Rig Beckoning to Budget-Minded Athletes

Our tester works out at the beach in preparation for the Rogue Resistance Bands Review

Rogue Resistance Bands Review (2025): Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer

Barbend tester Jake Herod works out on a Force USA Trainer

Force USA G3 Review (2025): Our Experts Tested This Compact All-In-One Rack for Small Home Gyms

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap