Rony Jason Fails UFC Fight Night 67 Drug Test, Victory Overturned
UFC featherweight Rony Jason had his recent victory over Damon Jackson negated after failing his UFC Fight Night 67 post-fight drug test.
The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission informed MMAWeekly.com on Thursday that Jason tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic. He was suspended for nine months retroactive to May 30, the date of the fight, and his victory over Jackson was changed to a no contest.
According to drugs.com, “hydrochlorothiazide treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney disorders, or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen.”
Jason's positive drug test and suspension comes just a couple weeks prior to the start of the UFC's new Athlete Marketing and Development program, which includes a year-round drug testing program with much more severe sanctions. Under the UFC's new policy, which takes effect on July 1, Jason would have faced a minimum two-year suspension. The Nevada Athletic Commission is expected to institute a similar penalty in September.
While Jason won't be sanctioned under either of those programs for this incident, if he tests positive again once those programs go into effect, this incident could be considered an aggregating factor, which could lead to even stiffer penalties.
This is the second time that CABMMA has suspended Jason, although his previous suspension was for a post-fight behavior incident unrelated to substance abuse.
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CABMMA told MMAWeekly.com that all the fighters on the UFC Fight Night 67: Condit vs. Alves event were “subjected to tests of anti-doping control for the presence of anabolic agents, diuretics/masking agents, stimulants, and cannabinoids.” Jason was the only fighter to return an adverse result.
All tests were collected by a World Anti-Doping Agency certified Doping Control Officer and sent to a WADA-accredited laboratory in Los Angeles for processing.
