Chase Sherman has a roadblock to his next UFC fight.
Sherman started his second UFC run at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira in May of this year, defeating Isaac Villanueva by second-round TKO. That bout took place on May 13. That same day, Sherman failed an in-competition drug test issued by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Since the suspension is retroactive to the date of the test failure, Sherman can return to action in February of 2021. USADA issued the following press release on the matter:
Chase Sherman Accepts Sanction for Violation of UFC Anti-Doping Policy
USADA announced today that Chase Sherman, of Gulfport, Miss., has accepted a nine-month sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
Sherman, 30, tested positive for anastrozole as the result of a sample collected in-competition at UFC Fight Night on May 13, 2020. Anastrozole is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.
Upon being added to the UFC Anti-Doping Program, an athlete who voluntarily and promptly discloses the use of a prohibited substance prior to testing will not be deemed to have committed a violation if they test positive from the prior use. While Sherman provided sufficient evidence that his use of anastrozole occurred prior to entering the program, he did not declare anastrozole on his onboarding declaration form and therefore he faces a violation for the presence of the substance in his sample.
Sherman received an additional reduction to the period of ineligibility for his Full and Complete Cooperation. Under the revised UFC ADP announced on November 25, 2019, a Full and Complete Cooperation reduction may be granted in the event that an athlete demonstrates that they did not intend to enhance their performance and provided full, prompt, and truthful responses and information to all reasonable inquiries and requests for information.
Sherman’s nine-month period of ineligibility began on May 13, 2020, the date his positive sample was collected.
Sherman’s positive test also falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida State Boxing Commission, which is resolving the case in accordance with its rules.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (https:// UFC.USADA.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements, as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.
In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (https://UFC.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, and periodic athlete alerts. Many of the resources available to athletes are provided in multiple languages, including Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese.
Along with education and testing, robust anti-doping programs enable investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers. USADA makes available a number of ways to report the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sport in an effort to protect clean athletes and promote clean competition. Any tip can be reported using the USADA Play Clean Tip Center, by email at playclean @ usada.org, by phone at 1 877-Play Clean (1-877-752-9253), or by mail.
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