Brooks’ Failed Anti-Doping Test Shows Importance of Putting Personal Health Over Everything Else (Opinion)

As we previously reported, Olympic medalist and Hagerstown native Aaron Brooks was recently suspended due to failing an anti-doping test, because of taking DHEA, an anabolic agent classified as a non-Specified Substance as part of his recovery from being hospitalized for double-pneumonia. And while some may criticize him for this honest mistake, I personally applaud him for doing whatever it takes to become healthy again. After all, I’ve faced a similar, terrible choice.

For those not familiar, when I took the COVID vaccine, I suffered a significant injury, including neurological issues which still persist today on a recurring basis. At the time I was in so much pain, I knew that the amount of painkillers I had to take was probably life-threatening. So I turned to the one substance I had been prohibited from using – CBD. And had I been subjected to a drug test, I likely would have faced similar consequences as Brooks.

For most people, taking CBD isn’t a concern. However, at the time I was a Federal contractor, and with CBD supplements always carrying the risk of excessive THC levels in a drug test, I was running the risk of losing my job should I be subjected to a random drug screening. But then, had I not taken the vaccine, I likely could have lost my job anyway, so what did I really have to lose in trying to get better? Federal workplace drug testing policies, governed by the Drug-Free Workplace Program, test for THC (the psychoactive component in marijuana), which remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. While hemp-derived CBD products with ≤0.3% THC were legalized federally by the 2018 Farm Bill, they are not regulated by the FDA for THC content accuracy. Many products are mislabeled, and even trace or higher-than-claimed THC can accumulate and trigger a positive test for marijuana metabolites (THCA). And had I been subjected to a drug test and failed it, I was fully ready to accept the consequences, but at the same time I would have absolutely ensured that everyone possible knew WHY I had no other choice than take CBD to deal with pain that was so debilitating at times, all I could do is curl up in bed in agony for days at a time.

I made the mistake of putting my career before my own health, by taking a vaccine that had not been through proper testing, and was approved for political reasons, not medical ones. And I still suffer greatly today because of that decision.

So when I read Brooks’ story, I could instantly relate, because I’ve been there. Personally, I believe he made the right decision taking whatever he could to recover, and the United States Anti-Doping Agency was far too quick to penalize him for putting his own health first. While the USADA pushed for a four-year suspension for Brooks, in an effort to disqualify him from the Olympics, I applaud the arbitrator ruling the incident unintentional and ensuring that his suspension wasn’t long enough to prevent Brooks from competing in the 2028 Olympics. Shame on the USADA for penalizing someone for trying to recover from such a life-threatening health condition, and not taking into account the serious medical issues Brooks was dealing with at the time.

If you ever find yourself in a similar position, take it from my own personal experience. Always put your own health first, and figure the rest out later. You only get one life, don’t risk it because of someone else’s arbitrary rules.

Opinion article by Ken Buckler, all opinions are his own, and do not reflect those of our clients or sponsors.

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