UFC women’s flyweight and bantamweight Ashlee Evans-Smith has been suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
The news was announced in a statement by USADA Monday as they revealed Evans-Smith accepted a 14-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance.
The tests were out-of-competition samples collected in January and once she was notified, Evans-Smith provided medical records proving she didn’t take them willingly.
Instead, she was wrongfully prescribed the anabolic steroid by a doctor.
Regardless, she will still have to serve the suspension lasting just over a year.
“Evans-Smith tested positive for the presence of an anabolic androgenic steroid of exogenous origin following as the result of urine samples collected out-of-competition on January 3 and January 27, 2022. Exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids are classified as Non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents and are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List. Evans-Smith declared dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on both of her doping control forms completed at the time her positive samples were collected.
“During an investigation into the circumstances of the case, Evans-Smith provided evidence, including medical records, indicating that a physician incorrectly prescribed DHEA to her. As such, USADA determined that Evans-Smith’s degree of fault was diminished and that she should receive a reduced period of ineligibility. She also received a reduction for her Full and Complete Cooperation.”
You can read the full USADA statement here.
*Link in bio* 💋 #RebelGirl pic.twitter.com/gjUXP02le7
— Ashlee Evans-Smith (@AshleeMMA) April 28, 2022
Ashlee Evans-Smith Only Eligible To Compete In 2023
Given that the samples were from January earlier this year, Evans-Smith will be eligible to compete as of March 3, 2023.
With that said, there is no word on whether she was planning on competing anyway.
The California native last competed back in November 2020 when she was outpointed by Norma Dumont. That made it two defeats in a row while she has also lost four of her last five outings.
