2024 Olympic bronze medalist Aaron Brooks has been suspended for two years after testing positive for a banned substance.
The highly decorated wrestler, who was also a four-time NCAA champion for Penn State, was handed the suspension by an independent arbitrator after the United States Anti-Doping Agency initially flagged his doping violation. Brooks’ positive test came from an out-of-competition sample collected on April 21, 2025.
“Brooks’ positive test was caused by his use of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which the arbitrator concluded was unintentional under the rules,” USADA officials said in a press release. “DHEA is a non–Specified Substance in the category of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the United World Wrestling Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
“Brooks’ two-year period of ineligibility began on June 13, 2025, the date he was provisionally suspended. In addition, Brooks has been disqualified from all competitive results on and subsequent to April 21, 2025, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.”
Based on his suspension, Brooks would be eligible to compete again after April 21, 2027, which means he could still potentially go after a spot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team with the 2028 games taking place in Los Angeles.
A standout as a four-time high school champion in Maryland, Brooks was a top recruit for Penn State where Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson has built one of the best wrestling programs in history.
He went onto capture four National Titles at Penn State including his senior year where Brooks moved from 184 pounds to 197 pounds.
Brooks then went onto put on a show to make the 2024 Olympic team, which included a pair of wins over fellow Penn State alum and 2020 Olympic gold medalist David Taylor.
At the Olympic games, Brooks fell in his third match to Magomed Ramazanov but bounced back with a shutout win in his bronze medal match.
His suspension prevents Brooks from potentially competing at the next World Championships but he could still return for the Olympics in 2028.
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