The latest UFC fighter forced to sit out a suspension by USADA is Jake Collier, who has accepted a punishment of 10 months after testing positive for a banned substance.
UFC light heavyweight Jake Collier is the latest fighter to run afoul of the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy under USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency). On Tuesday, USADA announced that the athlete had accepted a 10-month suspension following a positive drug test. The source of the test was traced back to a supplement, with the banned ingredient listed on the label.
Collier’s positive test came December 27, 2018. The out-of-competition urine test detected the presence of Higenamine, a Specified Substance in the class of Beta-2 Agonists. Higenamine is prohibited at all times under UFC anti-doping rules. That’s due to its effect as a stimulant.
Per Tuesday’s release, Collier’s co-operation during the investigation resulted in a reduced punishment. “USADA determined that Collier was eligible for a reduction to the otherwise standard one-year period of ineligibility due his cooperation throughout the results management process and forthright declaration of the supplement on his doping control form.”
Collier’s suspension will date back to the day of his positive test, making him eligible to return in late October. Collier (11–4) has not fought since a win against Marcel Fortuna in 2017. He had been scheduled to face Marcin Prachnio last year, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. At 3-3 in the UFC, Collier started his UFC run at middleweight before moving up to the 205lb division.
Update, 3:40 PM ET: Collier has released a statement on the suspension.
My statement regarding the @usantidoping suspension @UFC @arielhelwani @bokamotoESPN @DamonMartin @aaronbronsteter @MMAjunkieJohn @lthomasnews pic.twitter.com/86nmPcemI6
— Jake Collier (@Jakecollier88) February 19, 2019
