Jessica Penne has the dubious honor of being the first UFC athlete we know about to be flagged for a potential anti-doping violation as a result of her athlete biological passport (ABP). Something in her passport caused USADA to retest a sample they previously declared clean, and this retesting found a prohibited substance.
What is an Athlete Biological Passport (ABP)?
USADA tracks a variety of biomarkers when they collect samples from athletes. These are primarily hematological (blood) biomarkers and steroidal biomarkers. This allows USADA to build a profile of an athlete’s “normal” levels of specific blood values and hormonal values.