Yaozong Hu suspended 10 months by USADA for doping violation

Chinese light heavyweight prospect Yaozong Hu has been suspended for 10 months by USADA after testing positive for a banned substance in a violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy.

USADA officials announced the suspension on Friday.

“Hu, 24, tested positive for androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione (arimistane) and its metabolite 7β-hydroxy-androst-3,5-diene-17-one as the result of a urine sample provided out-of-competition on March 9, 2019,” USADA officials wrote in a statement.

“Following an investigation into the circumstances of Hu’s case, USADA concluded that Hu’s positive test was caused by his use of a dietary supplement and that he was eligible for a minor reduction to the otherwise applicable one-year period of ineligibility for a doping offense involving a specified substance. The minor reduction is based on Hu’s cooperation throughout the results management process and efforts made to investigate the safety of the supplement prior to use, even though he subsequently realized that the product listed a prohibited substance on the label.”

Hu’s suspension was made retroactive to the date of the test, which means he will be eligible to return to action after Jan. 9, 2020.

Hu has gone 0-2 in his two fights in the UFC with losses to both Cyril Asker and Rashad Coulter.

Hu hasn’t fought since last November but now he will have to sit out until at least 2020 as a result of the suspension for the violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy.