The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Friday that 2021 Masters National Champion Brian Abbas has been banned for one year after testing positive for a drug not yet approved for use in the country.

The 56-year-old won the kilometer time trial in the 55-59 age group at the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships on September 16, 2021, and was placed under anti-doping control after the race. The sample was found to contain ibutamoren (also known as MK-622).

Ibutamolene is an investigational drug developed by Lumos Pharma and Merck that increases the production of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I, which increases lean body mass.

Abbas was able to show that he was taking a dietary supplement that did not have ibutamoren on the label, but analysis by a WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, revealed that it contained the banned substance.

"The presence of an undisclosed prohibited substance in a product is considered contamination, and if an athlete's positive test is determined to be due to a contaminated product, the fine may be reduced, as in this case," the USADA press release stated. "If an athlete chooses to use a supplement despite the known risks, USADA has always recommended that athletes use only supplements that have been certified by a third-party program that tests for substances banned in sport." USADA is now recognizes NSF Certified for Sport® as the program best suited to help athletes reduce risks from supplements." [9

Abbas will be stripped of his title and all results after September 16, 2021, and will not be eligible to compete until October 5, 2022.