In July USADA announced that UFC middleweight Ricardo Abreu had been suspended for the full two years for failing an anti-doping test. The failure was for 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone, metabolites of anabolic steroids prohibited under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. The suspension ended on July 1, 2018.

However, today the fighter was notified of another potential USADA violation. All fighters in the UFC are subject to random, comprehensive out of competition testing, including those under suspension. Abreu’s latest violation stems from a sample collection on Dec. 21.

Via UFC.com.

The UFC organization was formally notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Ricardo Abreu of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection taken on December 21, 2016.

Abreu is currently serving a two-year suspension under the UFC Anti-Doping Program, after the anabolic steroid metabolites 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) and 19-noretiocholanolone were detected in a sample collected from Abreu on June 3, 2016. Under his current suspension, Abreu is not eligible to return to competition until July 1, 2018.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed.

Consistent with all previous potential anti-doping violations, additional information or UFC statements will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

Failing a second anti-doping violation would result in a suspension double the first one, or four-years. That would put Abreu’s potential return off until July 1, 2022. As noted, he will be provided ta full fair legal review process before any further sanctions are imposed.