USADA News

Bobby Green
UFC

Bobby Green sounds off on USADA after being "chased" for drug test: "Y'all can suck my d**k!"

Chris Taylor - June 18, 2022

UFC lightweight Bobby Green is not happy after allegedly being “chased” by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for a drug test. Green (29-13-1 MMA), who has not competed since suffering a first round TKO loss to Islam Makhachev in February, took to social media where he sounded off on USADA officials.

Lilya-Shakirova
USADA

Lilya Shakirova handed two-year suspension from USADA

Drake Riggs - August 30, 2021

UFC fans won’t be seeing Lilya Shakirova on their screens until 2022. USADA announced on Monday that the UFC flyweight prospect had received a suspension for past usage of a banned substance.

Gilbert-Melendez
UFC

Gilbert Melendez receives two-year USADA suspension

Tom Taylor - July 27, 2020

Gilbert Melendez, who is no longer a member of the UFC roster, has been suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). USADA, the official anti-doping partner of the UFC, announced this news in a Monday press release:

Angela Hill, Mackenzie Dern, UFC
UFC

Angela Hill contacted by USADA lawyers over D.A.R.E. inspired t-shirt

Tom Taylor - July 9, 2020

UFC strawweight contender Angela Hill says she was contacted by lawyers from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) about a t-shirt she created. Hill recently created a clever USADA t-shirt that took inspiration from the organization D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), “an education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior.”

Jeff Novitzky, UFC 232, USADA, marijuana
USADA

USADA rules two athletes are "not at fault" due to sexually transmitted banned substances

Tom Taylor - June 12, 2020

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has given two athletes a pass on the basis that banned substances entered their systems via sexual transmission. Inside the MMA bubble, USADA is known as the official anti-doping partner for the UFC. The organization has made a long list of busts since it joined forces with the mixed martial arts promotion.

Kelvin Gastelum
UFC

Kelvin Gastelum tests positive for marijuana, receives second USADA suspension

Tom Taylor - May 11, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum has received a suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for marijuana. This is the second time Gastelum has tested positive for the substance. The drug test in question was administered after Gastelum’s UFC 244 loss to Darren Till. Gastelum was originally handed a nine-month suspension for this failed test, retroactive to November 3, but that term was later reduced by four months.

Jeff Novitzky, UFC 232, USADA, marijuana
USADA

USADA to continue random testing of UFC fighters despite coronavirus pandemic

Harry Kettle - March 18, 2020

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced that they will continue random drug testing on UFC fighters despite the coronavirus pandemic. The sports world has been turned upside down in the last week or so as a direct result of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, with multiple leagues and organizations being forced to cancel or postpone events for the foreseeable future.

Jessica-Penne
UFC

Jessica Penne accepts 20-month USADA suspension

Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020

UFC strawweight Jessica Penne has accepted a 20-month sanction from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for her second anti-doping policy violation. USADA announced this development in a Friday press release.

Ali Abdelaziz
UFC

Ali Abdelaziz sends a warning to UFC fighters regarding USADA: 'It’s them or us!'

Natasha Hooper - December 4, 2019

MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz wants fighters to careful in their dealings with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Abdelaziz is the CEO of Dominance MMA. The company is responsible for a roster of MMA talent including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Frankie Edgar, Kamaru Usman, and Henry Cejudo (to name a few).

Jeff Novitzky, UFC 232, USADA, marijuana
USADA

USADA announces major changes to UFC anti-doping policy

Tom Taylor - November 25, 2019

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced sweeping changes to the UFC’s anti-doping policy. These changes were announced in a Monday press release, which can be read below: The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the UFC® today announced changes to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. The policy changes are designed to ensure intentional cheaters are deterred and held accountable in the event they choose to dope while also being fair and just on those athletes who innocently test positive for a prohibited substance and gain no performance advantage.

Nate Diaz, Dana White, UFC
UFC

Nate Diaz explains decision to go public with USADA ordeal

Thomas Taylor - October 30, 2019

Nate Diaz gave everybody a scare last week when he announced that an adverse finding on one of his United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug tests had forced him out of his UFC 244 fight with Jorge Masvidal. Thankfully, everything turned out ok, and his fight with Masvidal will go ahead as planned, but it was still a stress-inducing moment for anyone that follows this sport.

Jon Jones
Sean O'Malley

Jon Jones offers USADA advice to Sean O'Malley

Harry Kettle - October 25, 2019

Controversial UFC star Jon Jones has offered some advice to Sean O’Malley regarding the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Jones has taken it upon himself to use the ongoing USADA situation with Nate Diaz in order to give his own thoughts on the organization, once again claiming that he considered himself to be innocent despite a series of past indiscretions.

Paulo Costa
UFC

Jeff Notvitzky says USADA is 'still evaluating' Paulo Costa case

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2019

If you were hoping to see undefeated middleweight knockout artist Paulo Costa back in the cage soon, well, you might have some waiting to do. According to UFC vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky, Paulo Costa is still being investigated by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after being fined $9,333.33 by the New York State Athletic Commission for an unknown violation.

Nicco Montano
UFC

Nicco Montano among three others accept USADA suspensions

Drake Riggs - April 23, 2019

It has been an absolute rollercoaster ride of a career to this point for the inaugural UFC flyweight champion, Nicco Montano. Entering The Ultimate Fighter season 26 as a bright prospect yet consensus underdog, Montano would go on to win the whole show and become the champion as she defeated some of the division’s best. Her crowning moment came on December 1, 2017.

Andrei Arlovski, Walt Harris
UFC

Walt Harris accepts USADA sanction, win over Arlovski overturned

Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019

UFC heavyweight Walt Harris has accepted a four-month sanction from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for the anabolic agent LGD-4033. In addition, Harris’ UFC 232 split decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski has been overturned to a no-contest. USADA announced this news in a release, explaining that Harris’ violation was the result of his use of a tainted supplement:

TJ-Dillashaw
UFC

BREAKING | TJ Dillashaw issues statement regarding failed drug test

Nolan King - April 12, 2019

Earlier this month, the MMA world was sent into a tizzy when UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw tested positive for EPO. As a result, the 135-pound king was suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Despite statements being issued from his teammates, coaches, and trainers, Dillashaw remained silent on the issue. However, that changed on Friday afternoon when the 33-year-old bantamweight released a video on Instagram.

TJ DIllashaw, Duane Ludwig
TJ Dillashaw

Coach Duane Ludwig comments on TJ Dillashaw situation

Tom Taylor - April 10, 2019

Yesterday afternoon, former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw was hit with a two-year suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), a substance that can only be injected, and is therefor not taken accidentally. Speaking on Instagram, Duane Ludwig, the long-time handler of TJ Dillashaw, issued a quick statement on the situation. He referred to Dillashaw’s EPO use as “inexcusable” but vowed to stand by his student.

TJ Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt, UFC 227
Team Alpha Male

MMA stars react to TJ Dillashaw USADA suspension

Thomas Taylor - April 9, 2019

This afternoon, news broke that TJ Dillashaw has been suspended for two years for his use of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), an “injectable only” drug. “I’m quite familiar with EPO from my days investigating professional cycling teams,” UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky told ESPN of EPO and how it is used. “It’s a very effective substance. It’s not a substance you find in contaminated supplements, it’s injectable only. You have to know what you’re doing when it enters your system.