Canadian fighter Jesse Ronson, who returned to UFC in July after six years and picked up his first victory in the promotion, has been suspended for 20 months due to a failed drug test, USADA announced Wednesday.
The UFC anti-doping partner said Ronson tested positive for a metabolite of the banned substance metandienone, an anabolic steroid medication.
The out-of-competition sample that ended up positive was collected July 22. Four days later, Ronson beat Nicolas Dalby via second-round submission at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till in Abu Dhabi.
It’s unclear if Ronson’s win will be overturned to a no contest. That would be up to the discretion of the UFC, which regulates itself in Abu Dhabi, a locale without an athletic commission.
A request for comment from the UFC was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Ronson, 34, posted on Facebook about the positive test Tuesday night. He said in the post that he did not intentionally take any performance-enhancing drug and that he believes the substance came from a contaminated supplement, but he was unable to produce the allegedly tainted product for USADA.
“I haven’t slept much and have been sick to my stomach as I would never knowingly or purposely take a banned substance,” Ronson wrote. “… Those who really know me know I would never take such a thing, as UFC is my dream job and goal and I have sacrificed so much of my time and life to achieve this goal and knowing USADA is very efficient and can drug test you at any time and anywhere.”
USADA did grant a four-month suspension reduction to Ronson for his cooperation in the case. The 20-month ban officially began July 22, the date the positive sample was collected.
Ronson (22-10) has won two straight following a two-fight losing streak in PFL. He has been a pro MMA fighter since 2009.