Canada’s Jesse Ronson won’t be snatching any bodies inside the UFC octagon any time soon.
The welterweight from London, Ontario known as “The Body Snatcher” has accepted a 20-month sanction from USADA after failing an out-of-competition drug test for metandienone. Ronson’s test sample was collected on July 22, 2020, just days prior to his UFC return against Nicolas Dalby.
Ronson (22-10) won the fight via rear-naked choke in the opening round. Metandienone (also known as methandienone) is a non-specified substance falling under the category of anabolic agents. It is banned at all times under the UFC’s anti-doping policy.
The veteran fighter announced the news on social media Tuesday. A day later, USADA confirmed his announcement in a press release. Per that release, “An athlete who declares the prior use of a prohibited substance will not be deemed to have committed a violation but, depending on the substance, may be required to refrain from competition for a period of at least six months and provide at least two negative samples. Ronson did not declare the use of metandienone on his onboarding declaration forms.”
While Ronson could have been out of action a full two years, the fighter “received a reduction to the period of ineligibility for his Full and Complete Cooperation under the revised UFC ADP announced on November 25, 2019,” Wednesday’s press release stated.
Ronson’s period of ineligibility is backdated to the date of his positive sample being collected. The fighter’s own statement to social media can be found below.
Hello everyone. It is with great surprise, and sadness that I have to inform you that I have received a suspension from USADA for the detection of a banned substance in my sample provided to them during an out of competition test. This has turned my world upside down as it’s a 20 month suspension. I haven’t slept much and have been sick to my stomach as I would never knowingly or purposely take a banned substance. The substance in question is Metandienone or Dianabol as its called on the black market. USADA has been working with me for the last few weeks trying to find the reason for my failed test as they (USADA) along with me and my team believe its from a tainted supplement. After many hours and days of researching metandienone and finding that many over the counter supplements in the past have been contaminated with the substance such as Vitamin C, multi-vitamains, magnesium, bcaa’s, creatine and many others. I have sent what I believed to be the tainted supplement in to be tested for 1000USD to a testing facility, which it came back clean, thus I am at a loss as all the other supplements I was taking at the time have been consumed and I cannot send them in for testing to prove my innocence. Despite the high cost of 1000usd per supplement I would send them all in to clear my name and get a lesser suspension if I could but I can’t. Those who really know me know I would never take such a thing, as UFC is my dream job and goal and I have sacrificed so much of my time and life to achieve this goal and knowing USADA is very efficient and can drug test you at anytime and anywhere (blood and urine samples collected) and you have to provide your whereabouts 24/7 so they can come test you whenever. I would never jeopardize this by taking a steroid. I’m a supporter of USADA and its testing and I believe in the system to keep a clean fair sport. I won’t quit or give up and I will continue to grind and train and improve during this suspension time. I want to thank USADA for everything they do in keeping things safe and I will serve this sentence/punishment and turn it into a positive for myself and my life and make some changes to my supplementation so this doesn’t happen again. As a man of my word I strongly support the term “if you’re caught and you did it man up to it”. -I did not knowingly or purposely take this banned substance. Thank you everyone for reading. I’m devastated by this so bare with me if I don’t respond to comments or messages
