WEDNESDAY 100303

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In the CrossFit world, honor and integrity are important.

When CrossFit HQ learned of a plan by a businessman to force out the rightful CrossFit Obsession affiliate owner and steal CFHQ-purchased equipment, we immediately acted to protect the affiliate owner, Brendan Gilliam, and his co-trainer Allison Bishop. CrossFit Obsession is, and remains, an affiliate in good standing, but the former backer of that venture (Luke Hillier, who was never a CrossFit affiliate) is not welcome in our CrossFit community.

We find it unfortunate that Hillier and others claiming to be "the owners of CrossFit Obsession" have embarked on a concentrated smear campaign, comprised of lies and half-truths, intended to separate an affiliate from its membership. Do not let them. They seek only to profit from this CrossFit community, not to help it.

Simply the fact that they claim to be the "owners" of CrossFit Obsession is proof of a lie. Brendan Gilliam is the CrossFit Obsession applicant and owner of record with CFHQ. He wrote the essay and he signed the License Agreement with us; he is the L1 certified trainer. We affiliate one person only with a specific CrossFit name. Luke Hillier appears in no documentation whatsoever with CrossFit, Inc.

We will not stand idly by and allow Luke Hillier (or anyone else) to spread falsehoods through our community or file false police charges against Brendan Gilliam or any other member of our CrossFit community.

We have written proof of the deception and the intent to deceive in communications among Luke Hillier and his associates. The proof is irrefutable and we acted to save an affiliate owner from false charges. We would do so again in a heartbeat.

We will protect our own.