UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori announces potential USADA violation

UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori has announced that he’s currently facing a potential United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation. The Italian fighter, who trains at Kings MMA in California, made this announcement on his official Facebook page, explaining that the failed test in question was administered on August 6 (h/t Tudor Leonte of Sherdog).

https://www.facebook.com/MarvinVettoriMMA/videos/2494475380593401/

“Hi guys, many of you are asking me everyday when my next fight is going to be, so I thought to do this video to explain you the current situation,” Marvin Vettori said on Facebook. “It is right that you know from me what happened, that I can tell you what happened in the most straightforward way possible. At the seventh USADA test [of the year], I was found positive for a very low trace of ostarine, and since August Im still in the middle of the process of it and I’m waiting for final news. No official press release has yet been done, because the new USADA policy is to say nothing until the confirmation of all the tests, given the many cases of contamination or accidental, like mine.

“Since the beginning of my career I have always been a clean fighter, I have never intentionally assumed anything that could favor my performances inside the cage because I am convinced that the results are the result of sacrifice, dedication, blood and sweat. This is just a small stop on the way to achieve what I have set. As soon as I will be allowed to return to the cage, I will do it as always at my best and with only one goal in mind.
I thank Jeff Novitzky for helping me understand the steps in this process with the USADA and I thank the USADA for keeping our sport clean. I thank my team and all of you who follow me everyday. I have never stopped training and I will never do it, the goal remains the same.”

As Marvin Vettori explains, USADA recently changed its policy with respect to failed tests. The agency used to announce all potential violations, but under this new policy, the agency holds off on announcements until intentional banned substance used is confirmed.

Given this change, it is now up to the fighter to decide whether or not they want to announce potential violations. Because they cannot fight during these USADA investigations, and fans tend to notice their prolonged layoffs, several fighters such as Marvin Vettori and Sean O’Malley have chosen to be forthright and honest.

Marvin Vettori last fought in July, when he gave up a decision to Israel Adesanya.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/29/2018.