Former Penn State wrestling star and 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Aaron Brooks received a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), banning him from competing until 2027. The ban began June 13, 2025.
Brooks tested positive for a banned substance, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA is a natural steroid hormone produced by the body. The substance is treated as a controlled anabolic steroid and is exempt from the Controlled Substances Act. DHEA is allowed, per the FDA, in dietary supplements.
However, for athletes, DHEA is under the category of Anabolic Agents (S1) on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. This means that use of either synthetic and natural variants of DHEA, whether prescribed by a doctor or not, are prohibited in and out of season.
Brooks tested positive for DHEA in an out-of-competition drug test on April 21, 2025 and submitted an appeal on Nov. 24, 2025. His appeal, according to PennLive, stated the substance was taken five days after being released from a hospital where he was being treated for double pneumonia. Brooks' appeal also stated that despite his initial research on the substance, two weeks into taking the supplement, he discovered it was banned by the USADA.
“Brooks’ two-year period of ineligibility began on June 13, 2025, the date he was provisionally suspended," the USADA press release read. "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.”
Brooks is a four-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion and was recognized as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2024 NCAA Championships. He received the Hodge Trophy for being the nation's top collegiate wrestler. As a Nittany Lion, he finished his collegiate career 89-3 all-time.
Brooks also won U.S. and U23 World Championships in 2023 and earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Wrestling in the 86-kilogram weight class, he won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This included a win over David Taylor, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist and another former Penn Stater. Due to the timeframe of his suspension, Brooks will be eligible to compete in the 2028 Olympics.