Christian Craig’s Anti-Doping Appeal Is Successful, Suspension Lifted on December 31 [Update]
![Christian Craig’s Anti-Doping Appeal Is Successful, Suspension Lifted on December 31 [Update]](http://rxi.iscdn.net/2019/12/193979_craig_hondamediaday-dec2019-cudby-0101.jpg?ar=3:2&fit=crop)
Earlier this week, Christian Craig posted to Instagram anticipating his appeal for the anti-doping test he failed at the 2018 Daytona Supercross. Craig broke the news of the failed test to the public over the summer but said in the Instagram post that he wasn’t notified of the adverse finding in his system until January 23, 2019.
“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,” Craig said in the post.
Craig had a lot of weight on his shoulders as his racing in 2019 was derailed by injuries and although the news of the failed test was not public yet, it took a toll on Christian, both on and off the track, and his family. In a recent interview with our Aaron Hansel at the 2020 American Honda team introductions, Craig said “I just hope no one has to go through this stuff. It’s the biggest headache. It’s put the biggest stress on my family, my friends, everyone around me. It’s taken away a lot of things from me.”
![Christian Craig’s Anti-Doping Appeal Is Successful, Suspension Lifted on December 31 [Update]](http://rxi.iscdn.net/2019/12/193979_craig_hondamediaday-dec2019-cudby-0101.jpg)
But this afternoon, Craig announced on Instagram after meeting with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, his appeal was successful and his two-year suspension—set to end March 9, 2020—would be lifted on December 31, 2019.
“I knew if I threw in the towel like they hoped I would, I could not feel at peace knowing what could have been. This was the final chance and it was so worth it. Thank you all so much, this feeling is surreal.”
Read the our reaction to the news on Craig's successful appeal and how it compares to recent anti-doping cases.
Below is his full post:
[UPDATE: Friday, Dec. 13]
Craig posted this to Instagram this morning on his appeal:
[UPDATE: Friday, Dec. 13]
The FIM have released an official statement on the matter. You can read it below:
The FIM and Mr. Christian Craig signed a settlement agreement on 9 December 2019, by which a twenty-two month period of ineligibility starting on 10 March 2018 and ending on 31 December 2019 were imposed on Mr Craig.
Following a routine In-Competition test conducted at the 2018 AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship round at the Daytona International Speedway on 10 March 2018, Mr Craig tested positive for Heptaminol, a prohibited substance under the heading ‘S.6 Stimulants’ of the FIM Anti-Doping Code.
Pursuant to Art. 7.10.1 of the FIM Anti-Doping Code, this settlement agreement is deemed to be a decision under the FIM Anti-Doping Code.
Furthermore, any competitive results of Mr. Christian Craig starting on 10 March 2018 through to the end of the period of ineligibility, including any medal points and prizes in individual, are disqualified.
An Appeal against the settlement agreement may be lodged before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland within 21 days from the date of receipt of the settlement agreement pursuant to Article 13.7 of the 2019 FIM Anti-doping Code.
