USADA confirms Yoel Romero tested positive for prohibited substance

UFC anti-doping partner USADA today confirmed Yoel Romero tested positive for a prohibited substance in the wake of the UFC middleweight’s admission to failing a test.

“Given that Mr. Romero has publicly discussed his case, we can confirm that he did test positive for a prohibited substance,” USADA rep Ryan Madden wrote in an email to MMAjunikie. “At this time we are investigating the circumstances surrounding his positive test to determine the appropriate outcome, in accordance with the rules.

“It is also important to remember that there is a full and fair legal process to handle the adjudication of any case, and all athletes are provided full due process before any decision is reached.”

Today on “The MMA Hour,” Romero, via his manager Malki Kawa, admitted he failed a test following his UFC 194 decision over Ronaldo Souza, but professed his innocence by claiming the result was caused by a contaminated supplement. Kawa did not name the supplement, but said it had been tested by the fighter’s team and USADA.

USADA announced this past month that Romero had been notified of a potential anti-doping violation and would handle the results management for his case. But Kawa came forward in advance of the anti-doping agency’s findings.

Expecting a formal decision by the end of the week, Kawa cited a section of the UFC’s anti-doping policy as the likely range for Romero’s punishment. According to section 10.5.1.2 of the UFC’s policy, available on USADA’s UFC website, “in cases where the athlete or other person can establish that the detected prohibited substance came from a contaminated product, then the period of ineligibility shall be, at a minimum, a reprimand and no period of ineligibility, and at a maximum, the period of ineligibility” for use or attempted use of a prohibited substance. In this case, that’s likely two years where the violation “involves a non-specified substance or prohibited method.”

But section 2.2 of the policy also notes that athletes are responsible for what they put into their bodies, and “accordingly, it is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping policy violation for use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.” The weight of those rules are likely to factor in USADA’s ultimate decision.

Romero, (11-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who’s ranked No. 3 in the MMAjunkie/USA TODAY Sports MMA middleweight rankings, acknowledged: “I think it’s my responsibility when I take something. But I think maybe a public warning (would be a fair punishment). When you see the supplement, outside it says it’s clean, you can take it.”

Romero’s positive test – his first in MMA – likely took him out of the immediate running for a title shot, as his fight with Souza (22-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was widely expected to produce a middleweight title contender. The UFC is now targeting a rematch between champ Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman, whom he dethroned in UFC 194’s co-headliner, for UFC 199 in June.

“My whole entire life, I’ve trained very hard,” Romero said via translator and Kawa. “I abstain from a lot of stuff in life. To reach not just the world title, but also to maintain my family. If I would have committed what they’re saying, I’m running the risk that I can’t support my family. I think more about my family than I do a title. I’m conscious that if I take one of these supplements, they’re going to catch me.”

For complete coverage of UFC 194, check out the UFC Events section of the site.