James Mulheron Accepts One Year Suspension From USADA

James Mulheron was supposed to compete late last year at UFC Fight Night Shanghai, but was then notified of a potential violation from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and was pulled from the card.

Mulheron had failed an out of competition drug test a week before the Shanghai card, with the substances known as clomiphene and hydroxyclomiphene found in the sample.

It has since been announced by USADA that the UFC fighter has accepted a one year suspension from the failed drug test.

The following was issued by USADA:

“USADA announced today that UFC® athlete, James Mulheron, of South Shields, United Kingdom, has tested positive for a prohibited substance and accepted the standard one-year sanction for his anti-doping policy violation.

“Mulheron, 29, tested positive for clomiphene and its metabolite, hydroxyclomiphene, following an out-of-competition urine test conducted on November 10, 2017. Clomiphene is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

“Clomiphene is not approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) or the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in the male population, as its use has not been thoroughly studied for safety and efficacy. Clomiphene also indirectly promotes the secretion of testosterone. Increasing testosterone, especially when combined with strength training, has been demonstrated to increase fat-free mass, muscle size, and strength in males, potentially leading to performance enhancement in sport.

“Mulheron’s one-year period of ineligibility began on November 17, 2017, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. As a result of his positive test, Mulheron was removed from the Card for the UFC Fight Night event in Shanghai, China, scheduled for November 25, 2017.

“Pursuant to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, all UFC athletes serving a period of ineligibility for an anti-doping policy violation are required to remain in the USADA registered testing pool and make themselves available for testing in order to receive credit for time completed under his or her sanction.”

Since the suspension is retroactive to the date of the failed test, it won’t be until November 17 of 2018 that Mulheron can compete again.