On August 20, 2024, the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA) issued a formal statement in response to the tragic death of Lazar Djukic during the opening event of the 2024 CrossFit Games. The PFAA expressed deep sorrow and concern over the incident and used the opportunity to outline three critical demands that they believe are essential to rebuilding athlete trust in the sport of CrossFit.
The PFAA’s demands included several key actions aimed at addressing the concerns raised by Lazar Djukic’s untimely death. First, they called for full transparency regarding the third-party investigation into the circumstances surrounding Djukic’s passing. Additionally, the PFAA urged the establishment of an independent safety team that would oversee all future CrossFit events, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety protocols and impartial oversight. Lastly, they demanded the removal of Dave Castro from his role within the Sport Team, citing the necessity for new leadership to regain the trust of the athletes and the broader CrossFit community. These measures, according to the PFAA, are crucial for preventing future tragedies and for restoring faith in the sport’s governance.
PFAA Demands for Dave Castro’s Removal from CrossFit Games Sport Team
The Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA) was established in July 2020 . The organization is spearheaded by Brent Fikowski, who serves as the President of the PFAA. Fikowski is supported by a diverse group of elite athletes representing the seven competitive regions in CrossFit. Notable members include Pat Vellner, Annie Thorisdottir, and Fee Saghafi, among others, who bring their extensive experience and passion for the sport to the association. Advisory Council members include Caroline Lambray, John Christian Singleton, Justin Cotler, Max El-Hag and Joshua Hicks.
The PFAA’s official statement calling for Dave Castro’s removal from his position was shared on their Instagram account. You can read the full statement below.
The PFAA represents the interests of athletes competing in the CrossFit Games season. The sport is built on the principle that athletes do not know all of the details of the events they participate in, but we always assumed if something went wrong they would save us. We were wrong.
1) We demand an appropriate level of transparency between CrossFit and the PFAA regarding their 3rd party investigation as to the death of Lazar Dukic and subsequent changes made to protect all athletes going forward.
2) We demand CrossFit create an independent safety team to liaise with the PFAA on an ongoing basis.
3) We demand that Dave Castro be removed from his position in the Sport Team.
These demands reflect the immediate steps necessary to begin to restore athlete trust in CrossFit Sport. The PFAA is also acutely aware that more must be done to change the culture and strategic direction of this sport to ensure its future and that will take time.
Signed The PFAA Board – Anníe Thorisdottir, Brent Fikowski, Dina Swift, Fee Saghafi, Leeverne Engelbrecht, Patrick Vellner, Royce Dunne, Victoria Campos
