Yoel Romero’s UFC career will resume later this year, as the fighter has agreed to a six-month suspension from the USADA.
Romero (11-1) failed a test for a banned substance following his UFC 194 victory over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. The win, his seventh inside the Octagon, likely positioned the former Olympic wrestler for a shot at the UFC middleweight title.
Instead, he will sit on the sidelines through the first six months of 2015.
Below is the complete statement from the USADA:
“Romero’s period of ineligibility began on January 12, 2016, the date on which he was provisionally suspended from competition. Because USADA was able to confirm, based on a negative fight night test result, that Romero’s use of the contaminated supplement began after he competed at UFC 194 on December 12, 2015, his competitive results from that event were not disqualified.
‘This case clearly demonstrates some of the dangers inherent to supplement use,’ said USADA’s Special Advisor on Drugs and Supplements, Dr. Amy Eichner. ‘When considering whether to incorporate supplements into a training plan, it is vitally important that athletes exercise the upmost care in order to avoid making a decision that could endanger their eligibility, reputation or general health and wellness.’
