UFC Fight Night 216: Bobby Green discusses drug suspension

UFC lightweight fighter Bobby Green voiced his opinion about his six-month USADA suspension at the UFC Fight Night 216 media day.

Green entered the dais with a fierce gesture, grabbing the microphone and throwing a water bottle in front of him. He told the reporters at the UFC Apex that he had been “chastised” and “villainized.”

Green said he did not do drugs and insisted that he never lied to the public. He did not accept how USADA had tarnished his reputation by announcing his suspension in October.

Green tested positive for a banned substance, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), on May 16. It was later found that Green had ingested it from a supplement. USADA decided on the rather tame six-month suspension because Green had been cooperative during the investigation and “provided evidence” on how he had unconsciously consumed the substance.

The suspension came only a week ahead of UFC 276, where he had been scheduled to fight Jim Miller.

“Don’t play with my name. I’m not that guy. If you think that I would do – play with my public [sic]. I’ve never lied to none of my public ever. I don’t tell lies,”Green said.

Green said he had consumed DHEA after learning about the substance on YouTube. He claimed that a channel focusing on health had recommended consuming the drug, prompting him to go to a store and purchase a supplement without first consulting an actual medical doctor.

“There’s Vitamin A, Vitamin C and this other thing right there says DHEA. I don’t know what that was, but I’m watching these videos with this guy named Dr. Eric Berg. Look him up on YouTube, and he’s all about health,” he said.

Green admitted that he had “f*cked up” with his suspension and wanted the public not to think of him as a cheater like T.J. Dillashaw and other fighters.

Green became eligible to fight again on November 16 and will face Drew Dober on Saturday, December 17, at UFC Fight Night 216.