What started as the biggest win of his combat sports career quickly turned into a living nightmare for Top 5 bantamweight Rob Font, who tested positive for the stimulant 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA) in the wake of his Cody Garbrandt victory at UFC Vegas 27 last May in Las Vegas.
Since United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) doesn’t disclose adverse findings until a ruling is handed down, Font could have easily pressed forward without much fanfare. But his team opted for full disclosure of the matter to avoid any “hey wait a minute” discoveries at a later date.
Veteran reporter Nolan King does the heavy lifting:
Upon further investigation and study of similar positive tests among athletes in recent months, USADA identified chlorpensin, a non-prohibited cosmetic preservative that is commonly found in shampoos and lotions, was used in many of the cases.
Further studies between USADA and four WADA-accredited laboratories determined chlorpensin can also metabolize into 4-CPA. In other words, 4-CPA can stem from substances other than the prohibited meclofenoxate.
In short, Font popped after using as non-prohibited cosmetic product.
That should be the end of the discussion; however, because Font competed in “Sin City,” he’ll also have to close the book with Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Until then, the 19-4 bantamweight remains under temporary suspension while commissioners await word from Sports Medicine Research and Technology Laboratory (SMRTL).
“NSAC has all of the above facts in this case, but has not yet closed it out. As with any athlete in an open case, Rob will serve a temporary suspension until the case is closed,” Font’s manager Tyson Chartier wrote in a prepared statement (via MMA Junkie). “As we have all along in this process, we will cooperate in every way, shape and form with them. Our expectation is that once the testing methodology is put forth and implemented by SMRTL, Rob will be cleared by NSAC and his suspension will be lifted.”
For more on Font’s win over Garbrandt click here.