Yoel Romero is standing his ground. The UFC middleweight contender is affirming his innocence after testing positive for banned substances, which resulted in failing an out-of-competition drug test back in December.
Romero and his legal team have claimed that the UFC middleweight took a dietary supplement that unknowingly was tainted with banned substances.
MMA Fighting reports that Romero’s team was in talks with USADA for a nine-month suspension. However, Romero has opted to go to arbitration and could risk getting suspended for two years, or could get off with just a public warning.
A hearing date for Romero’s arbitration case has not been set.