UFC Middleweight Yoel Romero has been awarded $27 million dollars in a lawsuit against the supplement company responsible for his USADA violation in 2016.
On Tuesday, news broke that UFC middleweight Yoel Romero has been awarded roughly $27.5 million stemming from a lawsuit against supplement company Goldstar. After Romero was flagged for a USADA violation in 2016, he took Goldstar to court — and prevailed. In doing so, he was able to prove that the positive result was due to the supplement being contaminated with a banned substance.
The incident resulted in a six month suspension for Romero, and a hit to his credibility.
MMA Mania was among the first to report the results with Romero taking to social media to celebrate the news. According to Romero’s manager Abraham Kawa via Ariel Helwani:
“$27.45 million is the total Yoel was awarded — $3 million for lost wages, $3 million for reputable harm, $3 million for emotional damage … multiplied that times three for the state of New Jersey ‘Consumer Fraud Act.'”
The test in question came in January of 2016 when Romero was flagged for a potential violation stemming from ibutamoren found in an out-of-competition drug test. Ibutamoren is classified as a growth hormone and banned at all times under the UFC’s anti-doping policy. Facing a two-year suspension, Romero contested the finding and proved that the result was from a tainted supplement as the substance was not listed on the ingredients of a sealed container. The six month ban ensued.
Romero is currently scheduled to face rising prospect Paulo Costa at UFC 241 in Anaheim on August 17.
