Jake Collier Accepts 10-Month USADA Suspension for Use of Banned Substance

Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight Jake Collier has accepted a 10-month suspension for testing positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition sample collected on Dec. 27.

Collier declared the use of a product that contained the prohibited substance Higenamine, which resulted in a reduced suspension. His sanction is retroactive to Dec. 27, which means he will be eligible to return to active competition on Oct. 27.

The USADA statement regarding Collier is as follows:

USADA announced today that Rodney “Jake” Collier, of Union, Mo., has accepted a 10-month sanction for a violation of the UFC® Anti-Doping Policy after declaring the use of a product that listed and contained a prohibited substance, and testing positive for that prohibited substance.

Collier, 30, tested positive for Higenamine as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on December 27, 2018. Higenamine is a Specified Substance in the class of Beta-2 Agonists and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

Research indicates that Higenamine may act as a general stimulant and may be found in some pre-workout, energy, or weight-loss products. Even low risk supplements may be riskier than they appear. As such, USADA reminds athletes to check supplement labels for Higenamine (also known as norcoclaurine) or Higenamine plant-based sources (Aconite, Annona squamosal, Nandina domestica, Tinospora crispa, and others).

USADA determined that Collier was eligible for a reduction to the otherwise standard one-year period of ineligibility due his cooperation throughout the results management process and forthright declaration of the supplement on his doping control form. Collier’s 10-month period of ineligibility began on December 27, 2018, the date his positive sample was collected.

Collier has compiled a 3-3 mark in the Octagon since his promotional debut in 2014. He last appeared at UFC Fight Night 120 in November 2017, when he earned a unanimous decision over Marcel Fortuna. Collier is 11-4 as a professional overall.

The fighter known as “The Prototype” released a statement regarding his suspension via Twitter:

My statement regarding the @usantidoping suspension @UFC @arielhelwani @bokamotoESPN @DamonMartin @aaronbronsteter @MMAjunkieJohn @lthomasnews pic.twitter.com/86nmPcemI6

— Jake Collier (@Jakecollier88) February 19, 2019