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Ovince Saint Preux is cleared to compete after accepting and completing a three month sanction from USADA.
UFC light heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux has accepted a three month ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for testing positive for banned substances. The suspension is backdated to October 25th, 2019 meaning Saint Preux has completed the suspension and is currently cleared to compete.
In a news release from USADA it was revealed that a urine sample from Saint Preux, “tested positive for ostarine and di-hydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of LGD-4033, as well GW1516 sulfone and GW1516 sulfoxide, which are metabolites of GW1516 (also known as GW-501516)”. The out-of-competition test was administered on November 1st, 2019.
According to USADA, ostarine and LGD-4033 are “non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents”. GW1516 is a “non-Specified Substance in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators”.
After an investigation it was determined by USADA that Saint Preux’s failed test was the result of a tainted supplement. In their release USADA detailed that Saint Preux was using a supplement that was not a USADA ‘Certified Supplement’.
The supplement Saint Preux was using was tested by USADA. The supplement, which was provided in sealed containers, tested positive for the banned substances, despite not listing any of those substances as ingredients on its packaging.
USADA stated that the low levels of the substances discovered in the supplements “would not have enhanced [Saint Preuex’s] performance.” Saint Preux’s suspension was backdated to the day he started using the supplements.
The result of USADA’s investigation lead to a reduced suspension for Saint Preux. In their news release USADA clarified that reductions to suspensions were appropriate in instances of contaminated supplements. However, the agency stated that lengthy suspensions will still be given out if athletes use contaminated supplements, which are not Certified Supplements, when Certified Supplements are available.
The 36-year-old Saint Preux was victorious in his last outing; beating Michal Oleksiejczuk by Von Flue choke at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier in September, 2019. Prior to that win he had back-to-back losses to Nikita Krylov and UFC light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes.
Saint Preux has been competing for the UFC since 2013. He has 12 wins with the promotion.