Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos was notified by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) of a potential failed drug test and was subsequently pulled from UFC 215.
Ana Claudia Guedes is a representative for JDS and she, along with the rest of his team, would like two supplements tested for hydrochlorothiazide.
Hydrochlorothiazide is the illegal substance that JDS potentially failed the drug test for.
Here is a statement issued by Guedes to MMA Junkie about the situation:
“The level of hydrochlorothiazide listed on his USADA result was ‘low.’ Additionally, the specific gravity reading of Junior’s urine sample was 1.025, indicating that the sample was not diluted. We understand the concentrated urine sample to mean that the low level of hydrochlorothiazide in Junior’s system had no diuretic effect on his sample.
We are learning about some recent anti-doping cases where low levels of hydrochlorothiazide have been the result of supplement contamination, and even contaminated ground water. A 2016 study published by the National Institute of Health found that over-the-counter NSAIDs left hydrochlorothiazide traces.
Our goal now is simply to determine the unintended source of the hydrochlorothiazide. To that end, we have identified two nutritional supplements that Junior recently began using – neither of which show hydrochlorothiazide anywhere on their respective labels or ingredient lists – and are working with USADA to test both. Hopefully that gets us answers.
All drug tests that Junior has taken – both prior to and post implementation of the USADA program – have been negative, including blood and urine samples he provided on July 10 of this year. He prides himself on being a clean athlete, and looks forward to resolving this matter.
USADA has yet to officially announce any suspension or other penalty for JDS, it is also unknown if they will adhere to the request made by his team.
