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Manager Explains Why Yoel Romero Failed Drug Test

Highly ranked middleweight contender Yoel “The Soldier of God” Romero scored a controversial yet pivotal victory over fellow contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at last December’s UFC 194, a win that many felt had put him next in line for a title shot. Title talks were put on hold, however, when it was reported a few

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Title talks were put on hold, however, when it was reported a few weeks back that Romero was flagged by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for a potential violation to their guidelines.

Remaining relatively quiet since, Romero’s B-Sample was sent out for further testing, and although it returned positive, he and his manager, Malki Kawa, appeared on today’s (February 8, 2016) edition of the MMA Hour to explain the mishap.

Kawa explained that Romero tested positive for a substance that was not listed on the label of a supplement he was taking:

“The substance has a label with a bunch of stuff on it,” Kawa said. “None of that is illegal to take. What he got popped for is not on the label. So it’s obviously not his fault that he popped for this.”

Despite the explanation, “The Soldier of God” did indeed fail a drug test, and as a result, he could be facing up to a two year suspension, although Kawa doesn’t necessarily see that happening:

“I don’t expect it to be two years,” Kawa said. “I don’t think two years would be fair.”

In the end, however, the manager, admitted that it is the responsibility of the fighter to know what he’s taking:

“He did take the supplement,” Kawa said. “If you take a supplement, you run the risk of this happening. The responsibility does fall on Yoel.”

Romero reiterated this statement as well:

“I think it’s my responsibility when I take something. But I think maybe a public warning [would be a fair punishment]. I don’t know. … Nobody knows. When you see the supplement, outside it says it’s clean, you can take it.”

USADA also provided a statement on the issue via Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter:

“Given that Mr. Romero has publicly discussed his case, we can confirm that he did test positive for a prohibited substance. 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 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 to process before any decision is reached.”

What do you think an appropriate punishment for Romero would be?

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Tim Means Hit With USADA Violation, “Cowboy” vs. “Cowboy” Now Headlines Fight Night 83

(Means puts the stamp on John Howard. via Getty)

Welterweight Tim Means might be best known for once getting KO’d by a sauna, but it turns out that he’s actually a pretty talented fighter in his own right (and boasts one of the best nicknames in the game to boot). Since returning to the UFC in 2014, “The Dirty Bird” has put together a respectable 5-2 record, with wins over TUF 19 finalist Dhiego Lima and George Sullivan among others.

Fresh off a second round starching of John Howard at Fight Night 80 in December, Means was set to welcome Donald Cerrone to the welterweight division at Fight Night 83 later this month in a fight that had “fireworks” written all over it. Unfortunately for us, Means’ recent out-of-competition test happened to have FAILURE written all over it as well, resulting in “The Dirty Bird” being pulled from the card and yet another main event being placed in jeopardy.

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(Means puts the stamp on John Howard. via Getty)

The news of Means’ positive test broke earlier today, and as is usually the case, the man himself seemed more caught off guard by the results than anyone else, tweeting, “Fucccck that came out of left field! @usantidoping. Never even heard of ostarine! Look at my physic (sic). Do I look like a steroid user! Lol.”

Well, at least he’s not that broken up about it, although his classic “physique test” defense has been disproven about a million times over by now.

The UFC released a statement on Means’ failure earlier today via their website, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Tim Means of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. However, because Means was scheduled to compete against Donald Cerrone on February 21 in Pittsburgh, there is insufficient time for a full review and proper promotion before the scheduled bout. As a result, UFC will announce shortly a replacement opponent for Cerrone on the UFC Fight Night card in Pittsburgh.

Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

But before you go throwing your hands in the air and cursing the MMA Gods for reducing another UFC card to rubble, there is hope.

According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC has booked a quick replacement for the February 28th-scheduled event in the form of Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira. Currently 3-1 in the UFC, Oliveira has scored wins over the likes of KJ Noons and Piotr Hallman, suffering his only setback to highly-touted prospect Gilbert Burns in his promotional debut.

The fight will still be contested at welterweight, according to those in the know, and should serve as an interesting for Cerrone, who will be attempting to rebound from a devastating first round loss to lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC on FOX 17. In any case, it seems another disaster has been avoided for now, at least.

Predictions, please.

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Donald Cerrone Now Set To Meet Alex Oliveira In Pittsburgh

Former lightweight title challenger and fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone was originally scheduled to face off with Tim “Dirty Bird” Means in a welterweight bout at UFC Fight Night 83 on February 21, 2016 from Pittsburgh, California. However, after Means was flagged yesterday (February 3, 2016) for a potential violation from USADA (United States Anti-Doping

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However, after Means was flagged yesterday (February 3, 2016) for a potential violation from USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), the UFC was forced to seek a new opponent.

It has now been confirmed that the promotion has called on another man dubbed “Cowboy” in Alex Oliveira to take on Cerrone in the night’s main event.

The Brazilian has won three straight including impressive finishes over K.J Noons, and most recently Piotr Hallman last November. He will be making his return to 170 pounds and undoubtedly facing off with his toughest test to date.

Cerrone will also be jumping up to welterweight for this fight after a failed bid for the lightweight title last December. Prior to being on the wrong side of a beating from 155 pound champ Rafael dos Anjos, the always game “Cowboy” had won an incredible eight straight including five by way of finish.

Looking to start a new run in his new division, Cerrone will aim to get back to his winning ways in Pittsburgh

Who are you picking in this one, and what do you think of the new main event?

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Tim Means Flagged For Potential USADA Violation, Out Of UFC Fight Night 83

Another day, another one bites the (USADA) dust. Heading into very possibly the biggest fight of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in the main event of February 21’s UFC Fight Night 83 from Pittsburgh, welterweight Tim Means could instead be headed for a lengthy suspension after the UFC issued a

The post Tim Means Flagged For Potential USADA Violation, Out Of UFC Fight Night 83 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Another day, another one bites the (USADA) dust.

Heading into very possibly the biggest fight of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in the main event of February 21’s UFC Fight Night 83 from Pittsburgh, welterweight Tim Means could instead be headed for a lengthy suspension after the UFC issued a statement online that the ‘Dirty Bird’ may have tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition test:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Tim Means of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. However, because Means was scheduled to compete against Donald Cerrone on February 21 in Pittsburgh, there is insufficient time for a full review and proper promotion before the scheduled bout. As a result, UFC will announce shortly a replacement opponent for Cerrone on the UFC Fight Night card in Pittsburgh.

Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

As per the statement, the promotion is now seeking a replacement opponent for Cerrone, who most recently lost to 155-pound champion Rafael dos Anjos via TKO at last December’s UFC on FOX 17.

Means may be headed for a stint on the pine instead of the biggest fight of his life, but the ‘Dirty Bird’ just tweeted out that he didn’t exactly consider himself dirty.

Hop to the following page to find out Means’ reaction…

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Everything You Need to Know About the UFC’s New Drug-Testing Policy

(“Okay Georges, we’ve done everything you’ve asked, now will you please come back? I can only book Lawler vs. Hendricks about 7 more times before people will start to grow restless.” Photo via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

As part of their on-again–off-again–back-on again relationship with year-round, out-of-competition drug testing, the UFC held a press conference yesterday to announce several major changes to their program, as well as further detail the specific punishments and guidelines of this game-changing policy.

The complete rundown is after the jump.

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The complete rundown is after the jump.

Firstly (and perhaps most importantly) was the UFC’s announcement that it will be partnering with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to both implement and monitor its policies moving forward. As a result of this collaboration, all UFC fighters will be required to alert USADA of their whereabouts at all times, failure of which to do so (or skipping a drug test entirely) constitutes a strike against a fighter, with 3 strikes in a year is the equivalent of a failed drug test. USADA will additionally be granted full control over drug testing procedure, with no input from the UFC.

“If a commission-issued punishment is deemed less harsh than the UFC’s, the UFC-issued punishment will still be implemented as a deterrent.”

Secondly, all UFC athletes will be tested ”Unannouced, year-round, in and out of competition testing. Urine and blood testing, any place, any where” on an average of 5.5 times a year. As for the specific punishments, well, BloodyElbow has put together a nice little breakdown:

Punishments for non-specified substances (steroids, HGH, blood doping drugs, etc.)

-To be tested in and out of competition year-round.
1st offense: 2 years (with possibility of 4 years for “aggravating circumstances”)
2nd offense: Double the sanction for the 1st offense
3rd offense: Double the sanction for the 2nd offense

Punishments for specified substances (marijuana, cocaine, other stimulants, etc.)

-To be tested for in-competition only. In competition is defined as 6 hours before the weigh-ins and 6 hours after a fight.
1st offense: 1 year (with possibility of 2 additional years for “aggravating circumstances”)
2nd offense: Double the sanction for the 1st offense
3rd offense: Double the sanction for the 2nd offense

Most notable from this list, other than the possibility of seeing a fighter banned for 4 years for a steroid infraction, is the organization’s newly-defined period that constitutes “in competition” regarding recreational drugs like marijuana – 6 hours before the weigh-ins and 6 hours after a fight.

A few other bullet points:

-Any fighter caught with either steroids or recreational drugs in their system are subject to forfeiture of their UFC ranking, belt, and purse or other compensation due to a failed test.

-Results for fighters will also be overturned to DQ losses.

-Any purse, compensation or fine will be put toward the cost of the UFC’s anti-doping program and/or anti-doping research.

-A minimum of 2750 tests per year spread across the entire UFC roster (hence the 5.5 tests/fighter average), which will be administered without advance notice. Testing can include EPO, HGH, blood, urine, and CIR.

-Past failures prior to the new policy will be taken into consideration (under “aggravating circumstances”) when assessing punishments for repeat offenders.

-All fighter tests and locations — that is, location of the tests taken — will be available on the USADA website, searchable by fighter.

And finally, a “whistleblower” line will be made available to fighters to alert USADA to any suspicious activity, be it in their own camps or otherwise.

As we said when the UFC first announced these changes, this is a huge, positive step forward for the legitimacy of our oft-anything but sport. It’s still remains to be seen just how effectively the UFC/USADA will carry this out when the policy rolls out on July 1st. We will have more on this story as it develops.

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