UFC welterweight Daniel Rodriguez has been suspended for six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission after testing positive for ostarine, a banned substance, in an out-of-competition drug screening, with the suspension retroactive to his failed test and making him eligible to compete again on January 28, 2024, while also being required to pay prosecution fees and undergo additional drug testing for his next bout.
Daniel Rodriguez, a veteran UFC welterweight, has been suspended for the remainder of 2023 by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC). This decision comes after Rodriguez tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, during an out-of-competition drug screening before his scheduled Sept. 16 fight against Santiago Ponzinibbio at Noche UFC. The suspension, which is retroactive to the date of his failed test, means Rodriguez will be eligible to compete again on Jan. 28, 2024. Additionally, he is required to pay $157.04 in prosecution fees and must undergo further drug testing leading up to his next bout.
The fight against Ponzinibbio had to be canceled due to the positive test result. Rodriguez, aged 36, admitted in August that his ostarine levels were extremely low and attributed it to possible contamination in a supplement. He denied any intentional use of the banned substance throughout his career, claiming that he has always prioritized a natural approach to caring for his body and rarely takes supplements. Rodriguez further explained that ostarine has been known to contaminate certain dietary supplements and that the trace levels found in his test provide no performance-enhancing benefits.
Having last competed in May, Rodriguez suffered a first-round knockout loss to Ian Machado Garry. Throughout his UFC career, he has achieved victories in seven out of his ten appearances, defeating notable opponents such as Kevin Lee, Mike Perry, Li Jingliang, and Tim Means. The suspension serves as a setback for Rodriguez as he aims to continue his success in the welterweight division, but he has expressed his belief that the positive test resulted from unintended contamination rather than intentional use of a prohibited substance.