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UFC middleweight Yoel Romero. John Locher
punished

Brandao suspended for failed drug test, Romero to challenge USADA sanctions

Romero will become the first UFC athlete to dispute sanctions from the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

DIEGO BRANDAO AND Yoel Romero have both been handed suspensions as a result of recent failed drug tests.

Brandao, who lost to Conor McGregor in the July 2014 headliner at UFC Dublin, failed an in-competition test in Las Vegas on 2 January at UFC 195, where he was submitted by Brian Ortega.

The Brazilian featherweight tested positive for marijuana metabolites ahead of the defeat. Under Nevada State Athletic Commission rules, the in-competition period includes 12 hours before and 12 hours after a fight.

According to MMAFighting.com, Brandao has received a temporary suspension but the 28-year-old will receive a full hearing at a future NSAC meeting.

Meanwhile, Yoel Romero has been placed on suspension — which it’s understood could range between nine months and two years in duration — by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

Romero was flagged for a “potential doping violation” in January, relating to an out-of-competition test administered by USADA under the UFC’s new anti-doping programme, which was introduced in 2015.

The undefeated Cuban moved into the number one contender spot in the UFC’s middleweight division by defeating Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza at UFC 194 in December, but the failed test has dashed his title hopes, with champion Luke Rockhold set to face his predecessor Chris Weidman in a 4 June rematch instead.

Malki Kawa, Romero’s agent, told ESPN that the 38-year-old former Olympic wrestler will dispute the sanctions — which will make him the first UFC athlete to challenge a USADA ruling.

Kawa insists that while Romero did test positive for a banned substance, it was independently linked to a contaminated supplement he was using.

In a statement released in February, USADA confirmed that it was “investigating the circumstances surrounding [Romero's] positive test to determine the appropriate outcome, in accordance with the rules”.

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