Report: Yoel Romero Sues Tainted Supplement Maker Over 2016 Positive USADA Test

Yoel Romero has been granted another interim title shot, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight has another kind of fight in the works, too.

According to a report by Forbes, Romero has filed a lawsuit against Goldstar Performance Products in New Jersey Superior Court. The suit regards Romero’s 2015 positive test for Ibutamoren. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency describes Ibutamoren as “a prohibited substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”

The suit alleges that Goldstar “failed to maintain the production facility” and “knew” that it was producing supplements contaminated with unlisted substances. Romero’s suit also contends that as a result of his positive test, the Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling silver medalist lost a chance to fight for the UFC middleweight title.

Romero, 40, provided an out-of-competition sample to USADA on Dec. 16, 2015, just four days after defeating “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza at UFC 194. On Jan. 13, 2016, Romero was informed by USADA of a potential doping violation and faced a two-year suspension, which he appealed on the grounds that he had unknowingly taken a contaminated supplement.

The supplement, Goldstar’s “Shred Rx,” was tested by USADA by examining a pill from the bottle Romero had been using and a new, sealed bottle. Both samples tested positive for Ibutamoren, which is not a listed ingredient. As a result of the findings, Romero and USADA agreed on a reduced, six-month suspension.

Romero last fought at UFC 213 this past July, losing a unanimous decision to Robert Whittaker in their interim title fight. With Whittaker now injured, “The Soldier of God” has taken his place against Luke Rockhold. Romero and Rockhold square off for the UFC interim 185-pound title at UFC 221 on Feb. 11 in Perth, Australia.