Christian Craig | Adverse Finding In 2018 WADA Test

INSTAGRAM | @christiancraig

On Tuesday night, Christian Craig announced via Instagram that earlier in the year he had been notified by the FIM and WADA of an adverse finding of a prohibited substance in a urine sample that had been collected at the 2018 Daytona Supercross, news he did not until 10 months after the test, and that the possibility of a punishment from the ruling body has had an impact on his 2019 season. The post explained the substance in question, how he believes it got into his system, and why he’s been able to race despite the positive test.

As mentioned, the sample was collected at the 2018 Daytona Supercross in March, when Craig was in the 450 class as a fill-in rider for Team Honda HRC. Testing by WADA found a trace amount of Heptaminol, an amino alcohol that is classified as a cardiac stimulant in medicine and used by some bodybuilding supplement companies as a fat-burner and in veterinarian applications to dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow in horses. Heptaminol is classified by WADA as a stimulant under the “Prohibited In Competition” section of the 2019 WADA Prohibited Substance & Method List.

“There are two levels of prohibited substances- one would immediately suspend a rider and the other would not,” explained Craig in the social media caption. “Because the substance I tested positive for was on the lesser of the two lists, I’ve been able to keep racing.” Craig has not been suspended from competition and is allowed to continue until the final decision by the FIM and WADA is made. Per the post, Craig expects to have a final resolution to the matter in the next 30 days.

Craig was notified of the finding on January 23rd, 2019, via an email from the FIM. 

Craig said that he has extensively researched how the substance would have gotten into his body and he believes it was through a contaminated supplement. “I have spent the last six months testing myself & everything I’ve ever used to find the source. With a lot of research, I am convinced that my positive test came from a contaminated supplement. I have learned many supplements include ingredients that are sourced from all around the world. Which makes it nearly impossible to guarantee non-contaminated ingredients, especially a year later.”

The most perplexing thing about the situation is not that Craig tested positive, because he has taken accountability for through accidental ingestion and this is apparently understood by the FIM, but the amount of time it took for the FIM to get the results and pass the information to Craig. 

The 2019 race season has not gone well for Craig, as he suffered a thumb dislocation and damage in December that required surgery and kept him from racing the 250 West Coast division of Supercross. The injury was said to be healed in time for the start of the 250 East Coast region, but it remained incredibly painful and a check-up after the opening round revealed that it had dislocated again and another surgery was required to correct it. Craig raced and finished the Hangtown Motocross and Fox Raceway Motocross rounds of the Nationals, but withdrew from the High Point Motocross after a crash in the morning qualifying session. “This situation has taken a huge toll on me mentally and has made it nearly impossible to clear my mind to go racing this year,” he explained in the Instagram caption. “I pride myself on always being honest with my fans. Knowing I’m a Dad and role model to others, it kills me to even be in this position.”

We reached out to Craig on Wednesday and asked him if announcing the adverse finding means he will not continue racing the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. “I was thinking about just being done racing until the decision, but I don’t want to let this keep ruining my year so I’m gonna keep racing,” he told us in a text message. “I’m determined to turn this shit year around.”

We will update this post with more information as it becomes available…

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I wanted to give an update on what’s been going on this year. On January 23rd, 2019 I received an email from the FIM stating that an adverse finding was discovered from Daytona, March 10, 2018. Most importantly, I NEVER have or would knowingly take a banned substance! The FIM has agreed that they do not believe I intentionally ingested the substance. Of course, that doesn’t take away from the fact it was there. There are two levels of prohibited substances- one would immediately suspend a rider & the other would not. Because the substance I tested positive for was on the lesser of the two lists, I’ve been able to keep racing. From the start, there was a mutual agreement between all parties to keep this confidential until it was further resolved. But as people keep asking, “what’s wrong with you?”, I feel I need to update you guys. My adverse finding was for a TRACE amount of Heptaminol, a drug I had never heard of till now. I have spent the last six months testing myself & everything I’ve ever used to find the source. With a lot of research, I am convinced that my positive test came from a contaminated supplement. I have learned many supplements include ingredients that are sourced from all around the world. Which makes it nearly impossible to guarantee non-contaminated ingredients, especially a year later. This situation has taken a huge toll on me mentally and has made it nearly impossible to clear my mind to go racing this year. I pride myself on always being honest with my fans. Knowing I’m a Dad and role model to others, it kills me to even be in this position. I cannot comment anymore and respectfully decline any interviews on this subject until it’s resolved. Which should be within the next 30 days or so. I hope this provides a better understanding on why I haven’t been myself this year. It takes a huge weight off my shoulders being able to share this much for now. Thanks for your continued support! *This photo was taken a month before I received the initial FIM email. I chose to use this photo to show my fans if I had any intention to cheat the system, I would NOT pose & sign an anti-doping, FIM poster with my 4 year old son*

A post shared by Christian Craig (@christiancraig) on Jun 18, 2019 at 6:16pm PDT