Ex-UFC Title Challenger Suspended Again For Failed Drug Test
UFC veteran Ovince Saint Preux has accepted a suspension from USADA after two out-of-competition drug tests came back positive for a banned substance.
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A member of the UFC roster since 2013, Saint Preux previously ran afoul of USADA in 2019 and served a three-month suspension for using what was deemed to be a contaminated supplement. According to an official statement released by USADA, the 40-year-old has once again failed out-of-competition tests collected in June and July of this year.
Saint Preux has accepted a six-month suspension starting from the date of the first failed test (June 17) after he was able to provide a container of the supplement he was using that contained 1-Androstenedione but did not have it listed on the label.
“Although Saint Preux was not using a Certified Supplement, he received a reduction to his period of ineligibility because he was able to prove that his positive test was caused by a contaminated product and the very low levels detected in the products would not have benefited his performance. Given that this was his second violation, an increased period of ineligibility from what he received for his first violation was appropriate.” – Per the official statement from USADA.
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The fact that Saint Preux was able to provide the contaminated supplement indicates he didn’t intend to use any banned substances, but a second USADA suspension is unfortunate news for a fighter that has now been with the UFC for more than ten years.
“OSP” has long been a staple of the UFC’s light heavyweight division and began his time in the promotion with four-straight wins that included three finishes. Saint Preux also welcomed Jon Jones back to the Octagon at UFC 197 in a bout for the interim light heavyweight title that “Bones” won via unanimous decision.
The last few years have seen the 40-year-old come up short in two bouts in the heavyweight division, and earlier this year he was stopped in just 49 seconds when he took on Philipe Lins back down at light heavyweight.
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