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.
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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.
