Chalk up another potential hit for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s third-party anti-doping partner.
On Thursday, USADA announced that UFC lightweight Marco Polo Reyes has allegedly tested positive for a yet-unnamed banned substance as a result of an out-of-competition test sample collected on March 8.
Mexico’s Reyes last fought on Jan. 14 at UFC Fight Night 124, knocking out Matt Frevolta in 60 seconds flat in St. Louis, Mo.
USADA’s official release reads as follows:
“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Marco Reyes of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on March 8, 2018.
“USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Reyes. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.”
After failing to reach the finals of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Season 2,” the 33-year-old has made a successful transition into the Octagon, going 4-1 under UFC employ, including a memorable third-round knockout over South Korea’s Dong Hyun Kim in a raucous brawl.
The potential violation is Reyes’ first under USADA testing.