It appears that Jesse
Ronson could be spending a significant amount of time on the
sideline after failing a USADA drug test.
The UFC welterweight announced the news in a post on his Facebook
page. Ronson says he tested positive for the anabolic steroid
Metandienone, which is also known as Dianabol.
“It is with great surprise, and sadness that I have to inform you
that I have received a suspension from USADA for the detection of a
banned substance in my sample provided to them during an out of
competition test,” Ronson wrote. “This has turned my world upside
down as it’s a 20-month suspension. I haven’t slept much and have
been sick to my stomach as I would never knowingly or purposely
take a banned substance.”
Ronson added that he spent $1,000 to have a supplement sent to a
testing facility, but it came back clean. The fighter added that he
was unable to provide USADA with any of his other supplements that
might have been tainted.
“USADA has been working with me for the last few weeks trying to
find the reason for my failed test as they (USADA) along with me
and my team believe it’s from a tainted supplement,” he wrote.
“After many hours and days of researching metandienone and finding
that many over the counter supplements in the past have been
contaminated with the substance such as Vitamin C, multi-vitamains,
magnesium, bcaa’s, creatine and many others. I have sent what I
believed to be the tainted supplement in to be tested for [$1,000]
to a testing facility, which it came back clean, thus I am at a
loss as all the other supplements I was taking at the time have
been consumed and I cannot send them in for testing to prove my
innocence. Despite the high cost of [$1,000] per supplement I would
send them all in to clear my name and get a lesser suspension if I
could, but I can’t.”
As it stands now, Ronson won’t be back in the Octagon until 2022.
Ronson made his first promotional appearance in more than six years
at UFC on ESPN 14, where he submitted Nicolas
Dalby in the opening stanza. Ronson lost a trio of split
decisions in a previous three-bout promotional stint from 2013 to
2014.
“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 anytime and anywhere (blood and
urine samples collected) and you have to provide your whereabouts
24/7 so they can come test you whenever,” he wrote. “I would never
jeopardize this by taking a steroid. I’m a supporter of USADA and
its testing and I believe in the system to keep a clean fair
sport.”