After missing a series of drug tests during the past year, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has suspended UFC featherweight Yair Rodriguez for six months due to his consistent absenteeism. UFC fighters are on random call for testing around the clock and must be available to be tested, whether before or after a competition. USADA officials released a statement concerning the suspension via MMA Fighting.
“Rodriguez failed to update his whereabouts information and was unavailable for testing at locations provided in his Whereabouts Filings on three occasions. He accrued a Whereabouts Failure in each of the first three quarters of 2020. The accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes a policy violation under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”
https://twitter.com/RavensNewsPost/status/1334568435662118917?s=01
Since Rodriguez didn’t exhibit any purposeful activity for missing any tests, he is eligible for a reduction in his penalty. Rodriguez hasn’t competed since October 2019 when he defeated Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night in Boston, Massachusetts. The bout turned out to be the Fight of the Night. UFC President Dana White was asked about the mysterious disappearance of one of his top featherweights as a UFC on ESPN 18 post-fight presser and addressed the media without any prior knowledge of his whereabouts.
#UFC President Dana White gives mysterious update on featherweight #YairRodriguez – @LennyMarch02 has the storyhttps://t.co/5nP894FMO0
— Eric Kowal – MyMMANews.com (@MyMMANews) November 29, 2020
“We have not talked publicly about that?” White said. “Why not? I don’t think he’s going to fight soon. No, (he’s not hurt). We didn’t announce it. I don’t know why we didn’t. I don’t know what the deal is.”
Should Rodriguez finally reappear, he’ll have some serious explaining to do. Wondering if he’s in danger more than if he’ll uphold his obligations to get tested is now more of a concern.
