Diego Sanchez accepts 3-month USADA suspension for banned substances, but still fights at UFC Rio Rancho

Diego Sanchez is the latest victim of a tainted supplement.

The UFC veteran has accepted a three-month suspension after failing an out-of-competition drug test collected on Dec. 12. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the UFC’s anti-doping partner, announced the news Friday.

Sanchez (31-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) tested positive for ostarine and S-23, two non-specified substances in the class of anabolic agents that are prohibited at all times under the UFC anti-doping policy and prohibited list, according to a release from USADA.

USADA was able to test and confirm the substances came from a contaminated supplement, which had no prohibited substances listed on the label.

USADA determined Sanchez’s exposure to the substances began Oct. 26, 2019, making his suspension retroactive to that date. Sanchez received a reduced suspension after proving his positive test was caused by contaminated products. Additionally, the low levels detected in the products would not have enhanced his performance, according to USADA.

The suspension ended Jan. 26, so it will not affect Sanchez’s scheduled fight against Michel Pereira at UFC on ESPN+ 25, which takes place Feb. 15 in Rio Rancho, N.M.