UFC Flyweight Division competitor Matheus Nicolau has been suspended for one year by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after failing a drug test prior to UFC Fight Night 100.
Nicolau failed the drug test for a substance known as anastrozole, which is the same substance (of two) that former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones was suspended for prior to UFC 200.
Here is the full statement from USADA:
USADA announced today that UFC® athlete, Matheus Nicolau (Pereira), of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, accepted a one-year sanction after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
Nicolau, 24, tested positive for anastrozole following an out-of-competition urine test conducted on October 13, 2016. Anastrozole is a specified substance in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the WADA Prohibited List. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, the standard sanction for a doping offense involving a specified substance, like anastrozole, is a one-year period of ineligibility.
Nicolau’s one-year period of ineligibility began on October 13, 2016, the date his positive sample was collected. After his potential anti-doping policy violation was announced on November 3, 2016, Nicolau was removed from the Card for the UFC Fight Night event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was held on November 19, 2016.
Pursuant to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, all UFC athletes serving a period of ineligibility for an anti-doping policy violation are required to remain in the USADA registered testing pool and make themselves available for testing in order to receive credit for time served under his or her sanction. Furthermore, if an athlete retires during his or her period of ineligibility, the athlete’s sanction will be tolled until such time the athlete notifies USADA of his or her return from retirement and once again makes him or herself available for no-advance-notice, out-of-competition testing.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (UFC.USADA.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (UFC.GlobaDRO.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, and periodic athlete alerts.
The fighter will be allowed to fight again on October 13 of this year, as his suspension is retroactive to the date he failed the test, October 13 of 2016.
