Yair Rodriguez suspended for six months for USADA whereabouts violation
Since the addition of the U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to help the UFC regulate illegal drug use in the sport, there have been many suspensions. Some fighters fail drug tests before they fight, right after the fight, or out of the competition. Each circumstance welds its own punishment. The USADA checks up on fighters during their training by showing up at home or wherever the fighter may be. A part of that deal is telling the USADA where you are at all times. Fail to do that and it’s three strikes and you’re out. That is the latest case with UFC’s Yair Rodriguez.
Rodriguez has been suspended from the UFC competition for six months. The reason behind the suspension is not a failed test but rather failing to alert the USADA of his whereabouts three times in a 12 month period. Each fighter must alert the organization on an app if they are going to be away from their homes. Many fighters have taken to social media to complain bout the protocol in the light of Rodriguez’s suspension.
Could also be that he wasn’t around for testing. I am on my second strike aswell. They will show up at your house at 7 AM or 7 PM and if you are not there and can’t meet them at that time it’s a strike. It’s tough to update your whereabouts every time you go eat dinner.
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) December 3, 2020
“Rodriguez was eligible for a reduction in the period of ineligibility because his conduct did not raise suspicion that he has trying to avoid being available for testing,” a statement from the USADA read.
The suspension began on September 8, 2020, so Rodriguez will be able to return to action in March. Rodriguez has not fought since October of 2019 when he defeated Jeremy Stephens at UFC Boston. Rodriguez was briefly linked to a bout against Zabit Magomedsharipov in August but was forced out of the fight due to an ankle injury. Rodriguez has had an impressive career since he joined the UFC back in 2015, not including the brief release and then reinstatement back in 2018. In his ten fights in the Octagon, six of them have welded a Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonus.
