USADA announced today that Daniel Rodriguez, of Las Vegas, Nev., has accepted a three-month sanction for a violation of the UFC® Anti-Doping Policy.
Rodriguez, 36, tested positive for ostarine (enobosarm) and LGD-4033 (ligandrol), and its metabolite dihydroxy-LGD-4033, as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on July 28, 2023. Ostarine and LGD-4033 are non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents and are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.
The UFC Prohibited List establishes a default one-year sanction for positive tests involving Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), like ostarine and LGD-4033, in circumstances where they are reported at urinary concentrations between 0.1 ng/mL and 1 ng/mL and the athlete is not able to demonstrate based on a balance of probabilities that their positive test arose from supplement contamination. In this case, however, Rodriguez received a reduction to a one-year period of ineligibility because he was able to prove that his positive test was caused by a contaminated product, and the low levels detected in the product would not have benefited his performance.
Rodriguez’s three-month period of ineligibility began on August 17, 2023, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. Rodriguez’s positive test also falls under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which has resolved the case in accordance with its rules.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, nonprofit, 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 (https://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 (https://UFC.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List and periodic athlete alerts. Many of the resources available to athletes are provided in multiple languages, including Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese.
USADA makes available a number of ways to report the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sport in an effort to protect clean athletes and promote clean competition. Any tip can be reported using the USADA Play Clean Tip Center, by text at 87232 (“USADA”), by email at playclean@USADA.org, by phone at 1-877-Play Clean (1-877-752-9253), or by mail.
For more information or media inquiries, email media@usada.org.