It’s already time for Holly Holm’s first title defense. The former pro boxer stamped herself as a UFC superstar by dethroning the seemingly invincible Ronda Rousey on Saturday night.
However, just two days after a savage kick to Ronda Rousey's jaw made her a household name, Holly Holm's sponsorship ties are being questioned.
Holm is sponsored by Intel Pharma, reports USA Today, which sells four products that contain steroid alternatives banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The Texas-based company sells supplements reportedly containing substances that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
UFC follows the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s rules, which adheres to the WADA’s rules and regulations. While this sponsorship doesn’t mean Holly is on steroids, it doesn’t look good for the new UFC champ.
“Holly didn’t really use them so it’s not a big deal,” Lenny Fresquez, Holm’s manager, told the newspaper. “I’m sure she didn’t use any of them. She might have taken a picture with one. … Now that you’ve raised this concern, we’ll definitely take that into consideration more carefully in going forward.”
According to Intel Pharma CEO Landon Suggs, Intel Pharma stopped producing the banned products since June. They have already issued a recall, but some are still being sold online.
Rousey had faced the same controversy during her UFC reign. She had a business sponsorship with Gaspari Nutrition from 2012 to 2014, a company that allegedly made steroid-containing supplements. She has submitted nine separate samples for testing, and her drug test results came back clean.
What does this mean for Ronda and Holly’s proposed rematch at UFC 200 in July 2016? Ronda is already serving a six-month suspension, out of concern she suffered a traumatic head injury during her fight with Holly. If there’s more to Holly’s relationship to Intel Pharma than just money, is the rematch of the century in danger?
Holly Holm has not yet issued a statement regarding the issue.
