Olympic Medalist Wrestler Aaron Brooks Receives Two-Year Suspension for Doping Violation

Olympian Aaron Brooks, a wrestling athlete born in Hagerstown, Maryland, has been handed a two-year suspension following a positive test for an anabolic agent, as announced by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The ruling comes after an independent arbitrator reviewed evidence presented at a hearing on November 24, 2025.

The doping violation occurred during an out-of-competition drug test administered on April 21, 2025. The sample provided by Brooks tested positive for DHEA, an anabolic agent classified as a non-Specified Substance and prohibited at all times in sports. DHEA, while legally available as a dietary supplement, is known to have the potential to promote muscle growth, stimulate red blood cell production, and decrease body fat percentage, effects that can offer a competitive advantage. The arbitrator, who also serves on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, determined that while Brooks’ violation was not deemed intentional, he failed to demonstrate a lack of significant fault or negligence, leading to the imposition of the two-year ban.

Brooks, who earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and has secured multiple NCAA national championships, was educated by USADA on anti-doping protocols. He was added to the Registered Testing Pool in 2024 and received repeated anti-doping education, including information on the risks associated with supplements and a list of prohibited substances that explicitly mentions DHEA. Despite this, Brooks admitted to purchasing and taking a DHEA supplement purchased from his local grocery store.

The positive test resulted from Brooks taking a DHEA supplement purchased on April 15, 2025, just days after being hospitalized for double pneumonia. He stated that a conversation with doctors about potential sleep apnea and its impact on testosterone levels influenced his decision to purchase the supplement, which was labeled as promoting “optimal hormone levels.” Brooks reportedly took two 25 mg DHEA tablets daily between April 15 and April 21. He later acknowledged that he only researched DHEA after using it for two weeks, at which point his ChatGPT account informed him it was a prohibited substance.

During the doping control process, Brooks did not declare the use of any supplements or medications on the doping control form. His B sample was waived, and he explained his positive test was due to the DHEA supplement. USADA had charged Brooks for the use of DHEA and the presence of an anabolic agent in his system, leading to his provisional suspension on June 13, 2025.

The arbitrator found that Brooks had met his burden of proving the source of the positive test and that the violation was not intentional. However, the analysis shifted to the degree of fault. The arbitrator referenced established frameworks for evaluating an athlete’s diligence, which include reading product labels, cross-checking ingredients with prohibited substance lists, performing internet searches, ensuring reliable sourcing, and consulting experts. Brooks reportedly took none of these steps, leading to the conclusion that his fault was significant.

Consequently, the arbitrator imposed a two-year period of ineligibility, commencing on June 13, 2025, and concluding on June 12, 2027. All competitive results obtained by Brooks from the date of his positive test, April 21, 2025, through the start of his provisional suspension on June 13, 2025, have been disqualified. This includes the forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes earned during that period.

The full text of the decision is available on the USADA website.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from USADA.

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