UFC welterweight Jesse Ronson releases statement announces 20-month USADA suspension for failed drug test

UFC welterweight Jesse Ronson released a statement where he revealed he has been suspended for 20 months by USADA for a failed drug test.

Ronson defeated Nicholas Dalby by stoppage in his return to the Octagon this past summer on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. It was a huge upset for the former PFL fighter, who went 0-3 in his first stint with the UFC. The win over Dalby gave Ronson a very promising victory in his second UFC run and fans were excited to see what was next for him. Unfortunately, his next fight will be a long time coming.

In a post on Tuesday night on the Jesse “The Bodysnatcher” Ronson Facebook page, the welterweight revealed that he recently failed an out-of-competition drug test with USADA after testing positive for a banned substance. Although Jesse Ronson denied it and appealed it, ultimately he ended up accepting a 20-month suspension.

Hello everyone. It is with great surprise, and sadness that I have to inform you that I have received a suspension from USADA for the detection of a banned substance in my sample provided to them during an out of competition test. This has turned my world upside down as it’s a 20 month suspension. I haven’t slept much and have been sick to my stomach as I would never knowingly or purposely take a banned substance. The substance in question is Metandienone or Dianabol as its called on the black market. USADA has been working with me for the last few weeks trying to find the reason for my failed test as they (USADA) along with me and my team believe its from a tainted supplement. After many hours and days of researching metandienone and finding that many over the counter supplements in the past have been contaminated with the substance such as Vitamin C, multi-vitamains, magnesium, bcaa’s, creatine and many others. I have sent what I believed to be the tainted supplement in to be tested for 1000USD to a testing facility, which it came back clean, thus I am at a loss as all the other supplements I was taking at the time have been consumed and I cannot send them in for testing to prove my innocence. Despite the high cost of 1000usd per supplement I would send them all in to clear my name and get a lesser suspension if I could but I can’t. Those who really know me know I would never take such a thing, as UFC is my dream job and goal and I have sacrificed so much of my time and life to achieve this goal and knowing USADA is very efficient and can drug test you at anytime and anywhere (blood and urine samples collected) and you have to provide your whereabouts 24/7 so they can come test you whenever. I would never jeopardize this by taking a steroid. I’m a supporter of USADA and its testing and I believe in the system to keep a clean fair sport. I won’t quit or give up and I will continue to grind and train and improve during this suspension time. I want to thank USADA for everything they do in keeping things safe and I will serve this sentence/punishment and turn it into a positive for myself and my life and make some changes to my supplementation so this doesn’t happen again. As a man of my word I strongly support the term “if you’re caught and you did it man up to it”. -I did not knowingly or purposely take this banned substance. Thank you everyone for reading. I’m devastated by this so bare with me if I don’t respond to comments or messages

Jesse Ronson will be eligible to return to the UFC in July 2022. There is no official word on if this suspension will affect his win over Dalby on Fight Island.