New UFC signee Jose Henrique suspended by USADA before promotional debut

UFC newcomer Jose Henrique has been suspended by USADA – and he hasn’t even made his promotional debut yet.

Henrique (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) signed with the UFC in March and had not yet been booked for a publicly-known fight. However, it was announced Thursday the 6’3″ welterweight fighter recently submitted an out-of-competition sample that tested positive for 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) and 19-noretiocholanolone, both metabolites of nandrolone (19-nortestosterone), and other prohibited 19-norsteroids.

“Nandrolone and other 19-norsteroids are non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List,” USADA said in a written statement Thursday.

According to USADA, Henrique did not declare use of the substance on his anti-doping onboarding forms.

Henrique has not yet publicly commented on the matter.

The test was submitted March 8, which makes Henrique eligible to return March 8, 2025.

Henrique most recently competed in February for Shooto Brasil. He won by third-round knockout, which bounced him back from a knockout loss to Yusaku Kinoshita on “Dana White’s Contender Series” in August.