UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori hasn’t seen action since April, and today explained why he may be sidelined a bit longer.
Vettori (12-4-1 MMA, 2-2-1 UFC) posted on his Instagram account that he has been informed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency of a violation due to a positive test for ostarine.
Ostarine, also known as enobosarm, is a selective androgen receptor modulator typically used in the treatment of osteoporosis. But when used by athletes, it can function similar to steroids, which is why it’s on USADA’s banned list, as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.
The UFC and USADA recently changed the policy to keep potential drug-test failures private until after resolutions are made. But Vettori said he wanted to let his fans know the situation himself.
“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,” Vettori posted on Instagram. “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, 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 Notivky 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. #theitaliandream”
Vettori most recently fought at UFC on FOX 29 in Arizona in April, where he went the distance with Israel Adesanya, but dropped a split decision. Despite the setback, he became the first to take the unbeaten Adesanya the distance.
Prior to that, the 25-year-old Italian had a 2-1-1 start to his UFC tenure with a submission win over Alberto Uda at UFC 202, a decision loss to Antonio Carlos Junior at UFC 207, a decision win over Vitor Miranda and a majority draw with Omari Akhmedov at UFC 219 in December 2017.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
