Combat Sports Law

The below article was origimallnally published on February 8, 2015 and is updated frequently

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Elite level MMA has been under the microscope recently with unwanted drug scandals.  From Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones pre UFC 182 cocaine use to former Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva’s reported anabolic steroid use prior to UFC 183 the sport has received more than its fair share of negative spotlight in recent weeks.

If elite MMA wishes not to be relegated to the fringes of the sporting world doping needs to be cleaned up.  With MMAJunkie.com reporting that an astonishing 31% of known out of competition tests result in positive drug findings the problem appears pervasive.  Although the sport had its roots in self regulated uncharted waters and overseas policies which arguably outright encouraged steroid use (as can be seen from the below clause from a Pride FC Fighter Contract), modern acceptance and continued growth of the sport requires a comprehensive answer to its doping problem.

So how many Performance Enhancing Drug busts have occurred in elite MMA?  A member of MixedMartialArts.com’s ‘the underground’ forum has compiled the below sobering list.  Doping can be weeded out with effort from Athletic Commissions and financing from elite promotions.  A top down answer is needed and hopefully the sports regulators can stop the below list in its tracks before it continues to grow for the safety of future competitors and for the sake of the sensible growth of the sport –

Fighter, event, date tested, substance(s)

Josh Barnett (UFC 34): ?

Josh Barnett (UFC 36, 4/22/02): Boldenone, Nandrolone, and Fluoxymesterone

Tim Sylvia (UFC 44, 10/7/03): Stanozolol

Kimo Leopoldo (UFC 48, 8/16/04): Stanozolol

Nate Marquardt (UFN 1, 8/15/05): Nandrolone

Kimo Leopoldo (WFA, 7/20/06): Stanozolol

Vitor Belfort (PRIDE 32, 10/26/06): 4-Hydroxytestosterone

Pawel Nastula (PRIDE 32, 10/26/06): Nandrolone

Stephan Bonnar (UFC 62, 11/3/06): Boldenone

Kit Cope (WEC 25, 1/25/07): Boldenone

Johnnie Morton (Dynamite! USA, 6/13/07): ?

Royce Gracie (Dynamite! USA, 6/14/07): Nandrolone

Jorge Ortiz (Total Combat 21, 6/26/07): Nandrolone

Phil Baroni (Strikeforce: Shamrock v. Baroni, 7/7/07): Boldenone, Stanozolol

Sean Sherk (UFC 73, 7/19/07): Nandrolone

Hermes Franca (UFC 73, 7/19/07): Drostanolone

Anthony Torres (UFC 75, 10/3/07): Boldenone

Bill Mahood (Strikeforce Playboy Mansion, 10/15/07): Drostanolone

Adam Smith (Strikeforce Playboy Mansion, 10/17/07): Nandrolone, Stanozolol

Jason Winthers (Rebel Fights, 11/19/07): Stanozolol, Trenbolone

Ruben Villareal (WCO, 11/28/07): 4-Hydroxytestosterone

Dennis Hallman (Strikeforce, 11/29/07): Drostanolone, Nandrolone

Alexander Crispim (Strikeforce, 11/29/07): Desoxymethyltestosterone

Carina Damm (Femme Fatale Fighting 4, 5/15/08): Nandrolone

Alexandre Nogueira (WEC 34, 7/7/08): Boldenone

Antonio Silva (EliteXC: Unfinsihed Business, 8/21/08): Boldenone

Edwin Dewees (Afflication: Banned, 8/21/08): Nandrolone

Chris Leben (UFC 89, 11/3/08): Stanozolol

Kirill Sidelnkiov (Affliction, 3/3/09): Stanozolol

Ken Shamrock (WarGods, 3/11/09): 19-Norandrosterone, 19-Noretiocholanolone,
Stanozolol

Josh Barnett (Affliction: Trilogy, 7/21/09): Drostanolone

Cole Province (WEC 42, 8/17/09): Methasterone

Chael Sonnen (UFC 117, 9/18/10): TRT violation (x4 legal limit)

Vinicius Quieroz (UFC 120, 11/2/10): Stanozolol

James Irvin (TPF 7, 3/2/11): Epitrenbolone

Thiago Silva (UFC 125, 3/29/11): Synthetic Urine

Nate Marquardt (UFC on Versus 4, 7/25/11): Elevated Testosterone

Cris Cyborg (Strikeforce, 1/6/12): Stanozolol

King Mo (Strikeforce: Rockhold v. Jardine, 1/17/12): Drostanalone

Alistair Overeem (Random Test, 4/4/12): Elevated Testosterone (14:1)

Rafael Cavalcante (Strikeforce: Barnett v. Cormier): Stanozolol

Stephan Bonnar (UFC 153, 11/2/12): Drostanolone

Joey Beltran (UFC on FX 6, 1/10/13): Nandrolone

Rousimar Palhares (UFC on FX 6, 1/10/13): Elevated Testosterone

Thiago Tavares (UFC on FX 7, 2/6/13): Drostanolone

Lavar Johnson (UFC 157, 3/19/13): Elevated Testosterone

Brain Bowles (UFC 160, 6/7/13): Elevated Testosterone (>20)

Ben Rothwell (UFC 164, 10/3/13): Elevated Testosterone

Robert Drysdale (Out of Comp., 10/28/13): Elevated Testosterone

Doug Marshall (Bellator 109, 12/16/13): Elevated Testosterone

Antonio Silva (UFC Fight Night 33, 12/17/13): Elevated Testosterone

Vitor Belfort (Out of Comp., 2/7/14): Elevated Testosterone

Herman Terrado (Bellator 115, 4/24/14): Drostanolone

Chael Sonnen (UFC, 6/28/14): human growth hormone, recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), anastrozole, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Kevin Casey (UFC 175, 7/30/14): Drostanolone

Robert Drysdale (TUF 19 Finale, 7/30/14): Elevated Testosterone

Mike King (UFC Fight Night 46, 8/13/14): Nandrolone

Brain Ortega (UFC on Fox 12, 8/22/14): Drostanolone

Piotr Hallman (UFC Fight Night 51, 10/6/14): Drostanolone

Keith Berry (Bellator 127, 10/31/14): Elevated Testosterone

Nick Moghaddam (Bellator 127, 10/31/14): Elevated Testosterone

Anderson Silva (UFC 183, 1/19/15): Drostanolone, Androstane

Jon Fitch (WSOF, 12/13/14): Elevated Testosterone

The poster who created the above list went on to note the following questionable additions to this list

– Jeff Monson, for openly admitting past steroid use (even though he was never caught before or after a fight) and suggesting that steroids should be legalized.

– Kevin Randleman, for submitting a urine sample that lacked human hormones, following his submission loss to Mauricio Rua at PRIDE 32 in October 2006.

– Josh Burkman, who was scheduled to compete on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter until he tested positive for Stanozolol in a drug screening administered before the show.

– Jason Reinhardt, who admitted to using steroids for the majority of his career in a forum thread on mixedmartialarts.com.

– Dennis Siver, whose UFC 168 drug test came up positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a drug typically used post-steroid cycle to restore the size of the testicles and kickstart testosterone production.

– Wanderlei Silva, for fleeing the premises when a sample collector sent by the NSAC showed up at his gym to administer a random drug test in May 2014. (Update February 18, 2016 – this week the NSAC handed Silva a three year ban for this infraction following a prolonged legal battle.)

– Chael Sonnen, for testing positive for a pair of estrogen blockers, as well as HGH, EPO, and hCG following a random drug test in May 2014.

– Ali Bagautinov, whose failed a random-drug test for EPO before his decision loss to Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174.

Update February 10, 2015 – Hector Lombard (UFC 182): desoxymethyltestosterone

Update February 17, 2015 – Anderson Silva (UFC 183) January 31, 2015 Drostanolone

Update February 17, 2015 – Ashlee Evans-Smith (UFC 181) hydrochlorothiazide

Update March 16, 2015 – Alexander Shlemenko (Bellator 133) elevated testosterone levels along with a second unidentified substance.  He was originally suspended for three years by the CSAC but a judicial review reduced the suspension to one year.

Update April 9, 2015 – Jorge de Olivera (UFC Fight Night 62) Stanozolol

Update June 9, 2015 – Mike Richman (Bellator 137) suspended for two years after testing positive for an unspecified PED

Update June 18, 2015 – Rony Jason (UFC Fight Night 67) hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic.  9 month suspension.

Update July 6, 2015 – Gilbert Melendez, (UFC 188) Testosterone.  One Year Suspension. 

Update July 17, 2015 – Augusto Montano (UFC 188) Testosterone.  One Year Suspension.

Update October 10, 2015 – Amilcar Alves (Shooto Brazil 56) 19-Norandrosterone – Two Year Suspension

Update October 10, 2015 – Fabio Lima Ferreira (Shooto Brazil 56) Stanozolol and Methylhexaneamine – Two Year Suspension

Update November 3, 2015 – Pedro Munhoz (UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine’ in Halifax, Nova Scotia) Exogenous testosterone.  One year suspension.   Side note – Exogenous testosterone is not listed in Nova Scotia’s scant list of prohibited substances and arguably this failure is not a failure at all given the regulatory scheme.

Update November 11, 2015 – Mirko “CroCop” Filipovic was provisionally suspended due to a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation.  He admitted to HGH use and was handed a two year suspension by USADA.  Ironically the sample then came back clean but his suspension stuck due to his admission.

Update December 7, 2015 – Gleison Tibau was provisionally suspended after testing for EPO in an out of competiton test administed by USADA

Update December 23, 2015 – Glieson Tibau has now apparently failed a second PED test following an in competition test by USADA at UFC Fight Night 77.  Tibau admitted to using EPO and was handed a two year ban by USADA

Update January 12, 2016 – Yoel Romero has a “potential anti doping violation” from a USADA out of competition test. A UFC Press release advised as follows “The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed Yoel Romero of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection.“.   (Update April 4, 2015 – the substance in question was Ibutamoren and USADA, through independent testing, confirmed it was likely ingested through a tainted supplement and a 6 month suspension was agreed upon.

Update February 2, 2016 –the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed Abdul-Kerim Edilov of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection.  Apparently the finding was for Meldonium.  Update October 21, 2106 – Edilov accepted a 15 month suspension for the violation. 

Update February 3, 2016 – Tim Means was pulled from his schedule bout against Donald Cerrone after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Tim Means of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection.  On June 10 a deal was reached with USADA and a 6 month suspension was agreed to for ingestion of Ostarine.

Update February 4, 2016 – Rafael Sobral (Shooto Brazil) Drostanalon.  Two year suspension.

Update February 10, 2016 – Konstantin Erokhin (TUF 22 Finale) drostanolone

Update March 11, 2016 – The UFC reports that an out of competition sample collected from Felipe Olivieri in Brazil in January 2016, and analyzed at the WADA accredited laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, was recently reported to USADA as containing a prohibited substance.  (Further update January 25, 2017 – the matter proceeded to arbitrtion and Olivieri was handed a 2 year suspension for methyltestosterone metabolites in an out-of-competition drug test stemming from a sample collected Jan. 11, 2016)

Update March 11, 2016 – Both Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock are reported to have failed drug tests at Bellator 149.  Slice tested positive for Nandrolone and had an elevated T/E ratio, Shamrock tested positive for Nandrolone, Methadone and also had an elevated T/E ratio.  Slice was handed a $2,500 fine, initially was under a 90 day administrative licence suspension and ultimately had his licence revoked.  Shamrock had his fight licence revoked for a year by Texas.

Update March 31, 2016 – Andrea Lee (Invicta 16) Banned Diuretics

Update April 8, 2016 – Frank Mir was notified by USADA of “a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an in-competition sample collected the day of his fight on March 20, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia”  Mir has denied wrongdoing.  Update April 21, 2017 – Today Mir was handed a 2 year ban for this violation.

Update April 12, 2016 – Viscardi Andrade “was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Viscardi Andrade of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on March 7, 2016.”.  Andrade denies wrongdoing and has asked his B sample to be tested and is awaiting results.  – Update March 21, 2017 – Today USADA revealed the substance was Stanzolol and handed Andrade a 2 year suspension. 

April 13, 2016 – Lyoto Machida declared the usage of a banned substance during an out-of-competition sample collection conducted by USADA.  Results management process pending.  (Update November 16, 2016 – Machida accepted an 18 month suspension for this violation, reduced from 24 months for his ‘prompt admission‘)

April 15, 2016 – Islam Makhachev was informed by USADA of “a potential Anti-Doping Policy Violation involving Meldonium, a prohibited substance, stemming from a recent out-of-competition sample collection” resulting in him being pulled from UFC on Fox19 matchup.  The press release notes the issues in detecting the elimination rates of Meldonium meaning there is a possibility the substance was ingested prior to it becoming banned on January 1, 2016.  Update July 27, 2016 – Today USADA announced the athlete “accepted a finding of no-fault” and took no further action against Makhachev with a press release noting “After a thorough review of the case, USADA concluded that the extremely low meldonium concentration in the athlete’s urine sample, combined with the athlete’s explanation of use, was consistent with ingestion prior to the substance being officially prohibited on January 1, 2016. Based on the latest guidance offered by WADA on June 30, 2016, for cases involving meldonium, Makhachev will not face a period of ineligibility for his positive test.“

April 28, 2016 – Fabio Maldanado admitted to using DHEA during his last bout in the UFC.

Update May 13, 2016 – Carlos Diego Ferreira was flagged for “a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation, stemming from a recent out-of-competition sample collection” and pulled from his scheduled bout against Abel Trujillo on May 29 in Las Vegas.  The NSAC suspended Ferreira 12 months revealing the prohibited substance was Ostarine.  USADA, handed Ferreira a 17 months suspension for the same infraction.

Update June 10, 2016 – Today the UFC announced that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Chad Mendes of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection.  Further Update July 10 – today USADA revealed the substance was Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide and issued Mendes a a two year period of ineligibility. 

Update June 27, 2016 – Today USADA suspended BJ Penn for 6 months for admitted out of competition IV use. 

Update July 2, 2016 – the UFC announced that Daniel Omielanczuk was flagged for a potnetial anti doping violation for Meldonium but he was not provisionally suspended and USADA is allowing him to proceed with his next scheduled bout (unlike Makhachev and Abdul-Karim Edilov, as outlined above, who were pulled from bouts for Meldonium findings).  Further update February 6, 2017 – Today  USADA announced that they determined Omielanczuk ingested Meldonium “without fault or negligence” with the substance being used before being added to WADA’s prohibited list.

Update July 3, 2016 – “The UFC organization was notified that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Ricardo Abreu of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection..  Further update July 29, 2016 – today USADA announced that Abreu tested positive for 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone and handed him a 2 year sanction.  Further update February 1, 2017 – Today The UFC organization was formally notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Ricardo Abreu of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection taken on December 21, 2016.  Further Update May 5, 2017 – for this second anti doping violation Abreu was handed a 4 year ban.

Update July 7, 2016 – Jon Jones was pulled from UFC 200 after failing an out of competition test administrated by USADA in June 2016.

Update July 15, 2016 – Brock Lesnar was notified of a potential anti doping violation by USADA for an out of competition test administrated prior to UFC 200

Update July 20, 2016 – newly signed UFC Fighter Emil Meek was sidelined for 4 months due to “voluntarily disclosed medical treatment he received prior to signing with UFC that is potentially out of compliance with UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy.”

Update July 21, 2016 – UFC fighter George Sullivan was pulled from UFC on Fox 20 due to “voluntarily disclosed information to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that could pose a potential compliance issue with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”  On November 8, 2016 USADA announced that he agreed to a one year suspension. 

Update August 6, 2016 – Melvin Guillard was fined $10,000, had his win overturned to a no-contest and suspended for one year by Kansas Athletic Commission after testing positive at an in-competition test at Bellator 159.  The Commission cannot release the name of the substance but says it “was not a performance enhancing drug”

Update August 9, 2016 – UFC Fighter Ning Guangyou tested positive for Clenbuterol in an out of competition test administered by USADA on May 19, 2016.  USADA determined that the substance likely was ingested from `contaminated meat consumed in China` and used their discretion to issue no sanctions. 

Update August 17, 2016 – Today the UFC announced that USADA has informed Francisco Rivera of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on July 23, 2016.  The identified substance appears to be Clenbuterol and Rivera is apparently blaming the result on tainted meat consumed in Mexico.  Update January 2018 – Rivera was hit with a 4 year ban.  2 for ingesting the prohibited substance and a further two for ‘aggravating circumstances’ namely producing fraudulent evidence in his attempted defense.

Update August 23, 2016 – Li Jingliang was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a positive drug test  The UFC revealed that the substance was clenbuteral and that USADA is investigating but has not issued a provisional suspension.   On September 2, 2016 USADA reported that the substance was “ingested by him without fault or negligence” and imposed no sanctions for this anti doping policy violation.

Update August 26, 2016 – UFC fighter Adam Hunter was pulled from his promotional debut due to a “potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on August 11, 2016.”  – Update October 28, 2016 – Today it was revealed that tested positive for tamoxifen metabolite, boldenone metabolites, methandienone metabolites, drostanolone metabolite, and clenbuterol following an out-of-competition urine test ordered by USADA and conducted by one of its partner national anti-doping organizations, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, on August 11, 2016 and was handed a 2 year ban by both USADA and the BC Athletic Commission. 

Update August 31, 2016 – UFC Fighter Augusto Montano received a finding of no-fault and received no sanction after he tested positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on May 19, 2016

Update September 26, 2016 – Today the UFC announced that “U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Ruslan Magomedov of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection made on September 7, 2016”  Further update February 15, 2018 – Magomedov tested positive for ostarine.  He accepted a 2 year sanction for this doping violation.  Further update April 1, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Magomedov sustained two further ADP violations and has been handed a lifetime ban.  USADA noted as follows:

Magomedov, 32, received a second violation after he tested positive for methyltestosterone metabolite 17α-methyl-5β-androstan-3α, 17β-diol, as well as stanozolol metabolites 3’-hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide, 16β-hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide, and stanozolol-N-glucuronide, as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on October 10, 2018. Methyltestosterone and stanozolol are non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

The athlete’s third violation resulted from his refusal to complete the sample collection process as requested by a doping control officer during an out-of-competition test on February 5, 2019. Refusing or failing to submit to sample collection, without compelling justification, is a doping violation under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.

Magomedov’s lifetime period of ineligibility began on November 5, 2018, the date his provisional suspension was imposed.

Update October 24, 2016 – UFC fighter Lyman Good was flagged for a potential anti-doping violaiton by USADA and pulled from UFC 205.  Update April 3, 2017 – Today USADA announced that Good “accepted a six-month sanction after testing positive for a prohibited substance from a contaminated supplement“.   The substance was  1-androstenedione and its metabolite 1-(5α)-androsten-3α-ol-17-one and was found in an out of competition test.  “Good provided USADA with information about a dietary supplement product he was using at the time of the relevant sample collection. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement label, testing conducted on an independently sourced, unopened container of the product by the WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, indicated that it contained 1-androstenedione. The presence of an undisclosed prohibited substance in a product is regarded as contamination.”

Update October 25, 2016 – Today the IMMAF announced a 4 year ban against amateur Mixed Martial Artist Jamie Herrington for testing positive for amphetamines in an in-competion samle collected during the IMMAF world championships.

Update October 26, 2016 – This week CABMMA released a list revealing 7 separate anti doping violations committed from March – May of 2016.

October 29, 2016 – Today it was announced that UFC fighter Guido Cannetti was flagged by USADA for a potential anti-doping violation Saturday resulting in him being pulled from The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 3 Finale on Nov. 5 in Mexico City

—- Further update August 18, 2017 – Cannetti accepted a 10 month suspension with the prohibited substances being ostarine, the stanozolol metabolites 16β-hydroxystanozolol and 4β-hydroxystanozolol, as well as hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide.  The reduced penalty was due to the substances being traced back to tainted supplements with USADA noting “USADA obtained opened and sealed containers of a dietary supplement that Cannetti was using at the time of the relevant sample collection and that he declared on his doping control form. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement label, testing conducted on the contents of both the opened and sealed containers by the WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, indicated that they contained the prohibited substances found in Cannetti’s sample. “

November 3, 2016– Today it was announced that Tom Lawlor has been provisionally suspended by the UFC following a potential USADA violation following an out-of-competition drug test administered on Oct. 10.  Update February 24, 2017 – Today USADA suspended Lawlor for two years revealing the positive test was for ostarine.

Update November 3, 2016 – UFC Fighter Matheus Nicolau was informed by USADA of a potential Anti-Doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 13, 2016. USADA has provisionally suspended Nicolau based on the potential anti-doping violation.   Further update March 29, 2017 – Today USADA announced that Nicolau accepted a one year period of ineligibility.  The substance in question was anastrozole.

Update November 15, 2016 – Today it was announced that the “UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Zubaira Tukhugov of a potential Anti-Doping violation stemming from out-of-competition sample collections made on September 7, 2016 and October 29, 2016. USADA has provisionally suspended Tukhugov based on the potential anti-doping violation. The UFC is removing Tukhugov from his scheduled bout against Tiago Trator on Dec. 9 in Albany, New York, and is in the process of attempting to locate a replacement.”  Further update February 15, 2018 – Tukhogov tested positive in two separate out of competition tests for ostarine.  He accepted a 2 year sanction for the infraction.   USADA treated both infractions as a single violation because  the”second positive test resulted from a sample that was collected before he was notified of his first positive test”.

Update November 15, 2016 – in 2014 Brazillian athlete Alex Sandro Rodrigues Alves evaded an anti-doping test and was handed a 180 day suspension by CABMMA.

Update December 22, 2106 – Today the UFC announced Cris “Cyborg” Justino has been notified of a potential anti doping violation stemming from an out of competition test.….Update February 17, 2017 – Today USADA ‘cleared’ Justino from the alleged violation granting her a retroactive TUE for physician prescribed Spironolactone.

Update December 27, 2016 – Today the UFC announced that Josh Barnett has been notified of a potential anti-doping violation following an out-of-competition test administered by USADA on December 9, 2016

Update January 26, 2017 – Today the UFC announced that “U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed George Sullivan of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection taken on January 14, 2017.
Sullivan is currently serving a one year suspension under the UFC Anti-Doping Program, for his use of a product containing the prohibited substance Insulin Growth Factor -1 (IGF-1).  Sullivan was due to end his current suspension on January 31, 2017, and compete on the UFC 208 card in Brooklyn, New York, against Randy Brown.  However, USADA has provisionally suspended Sullivan based on the new potential anti-doping violation, and the UFC has removed Sullivan from the UFC 208 card. ”  Further update June 20, 2017 – Today USADA announced a one-year sanction for his second anti-doping policy violation.

Update February 1, 2017 – Today “the UFC organization was formally notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Justin Ledet of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on January 12, 2017″.  Further update April 5, 2017 – Today USADA announced that “accepted a four-month sanction after testing positive for a prohibited substance from a contaminated supplement.“.  The substance was 5α-androst-1-ene-3α-ol-17-one, a metabolite of 1-testosterone and 1-androstenedione which was contained, but not labelled, in a dietary supplement he was ingesting.

Update February 24, 2017 – Today it was revealed that Gian Villante was flagged for an anti-doping policy violation however he was granted a retroactive TUE for his use of an inhaler which had a prohibited substance as an active ingredient.  Villante disclosed his use of the inhaler at the time of his USADA sample collection.

Update March 7, 2017 – Ben Rothwell was provisionally suspended and removed from UFC 211 after “The UFC organization was formally notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Ben Rothwell of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on February 6, 2017.”

• April 6, 2018 – Today it was announced that Rothwell’s violation was for an exogenous anabolic androgenic steroid and he accepted a 2 year period of ineligibilty for this. 

Update May 11, 2017 – The UFC announced that Jessica Penne was flagged for a ” potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on March 20, 2017″ Of interest Penne’s sample initially tested negative based on the “standard out of competition analysis menu” but was then flagged for further testing based on her Athlete Biological Passport which showed “an increased degree of variability in urinary biomarkers measured in the sample”.  

Update May 26, 2017 – Cortney Casey had her unanimous decision win overturned to a no-contest by the Texas Department of Licencing and Regulation after findings of an elevated T:E ratio in an in-competition drug screen.  Update June 23, 2017 – According to Brian Stann she has been exonerated.  This article is worth reading noting that no prohibited substances were found, that Casey simply had an elevated T:E ratio and that IRMS testing cleared her of any alleged wrongdoing.    Update June 30, 2017 – Texas has now exonerated Casey and reinstated her win

Update June 15, 2017 – Amanda Ribas was flagged by USADA for a potential anti-doping violation and removed from her fight with Juliana Lima at the Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale on July 7 in Las Vegas, the UFC announced Thursday.  (Update January 10, 2018 – Today it was announced that Ribas was handed a two year ban for testing positive for Ostarine).

• Further update May 3, 2019 – Today USADA reversed course and noted that this suspension is over as they believed the level she tested positive for is consistent with supplement contamination despite no specific supplement being identified as being probably contaminated.  USADA noted : “the trace amounts of ostarine found in Ribas’ sample was made possible by sensitive laboratory detection capabilities and has been followed by four negative tests. As Ribas was unable to identify the source of her positive test, and taking into consideration the likelihood that her positive test was the result of an ostarine contaminated dietary supplement product, USADA believes it is fair to allow Ribas to return to competition after serving the majority of her two-year sanction.“

Update August 14, 2017 – This week the UFC announced that “the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Marcos Rogerio de Lima of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on August 1, 2017. Marcos was scheduled to compete at UFC Fight Night: Struve vs. Volkov in Rotterdam, Netherlands on September 2, 2017. USADA has provisionally suspended Rogerio de Lima based on the potential anti-doping violation.”  Further update April 23, 2018 – today it was announced that Marcos Rogerio de Lima, who tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide and anastrozole, had these results traced back to tainted supplements and acceptd a 6 month retroactive suspension.

Update August 17, 2017 – The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Nick Roehrick of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on August 8, 2017.

• Further update – Roehrick accepted a one year sanction for this violation.  USADA announced today that UFC^® athlete, Nick Roehrick, of Denver, Colo., has tested positive for a prohibited substance and accepted the maximum one-year sanction for his anti-doping policy violation.Roehrick, 30, tested positive for clomiphene and its metabolite, 4-hydroxyclomiphene, following an out-of-competition urine test conducted on August 8, 2017. Clomiphene is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

Update August 18, 2017 – The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Junior Dos Santos of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on Aug. 10, 2017. Because of the proximity to Dos Santos’ upcoming scheduled bout at UFC 215 in Edmonton, Canada against Francis Ngannou, Dos Santos has been removed from the card and the UFC is currently seeking a replacement. – Further update April 23, 2018 – Today it was announced that JDS’s positive test was for hydrochlorothiazide and could be traced back to a tainted supplement.  He accepted a retroactive 6 month suspension.

Update August 22, 2017 – Today it was announced that Jon Jones failed an in competition test from UFC 214  for the steroid turinabol.

Update September 13, 2017 – Today it was announced that Ultimate Fighter 25 winner Jesse Taylor has been flagged for an Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample taken on Aug. 22.

(Further update – Today it was announced that the substance was Clomiphene and Taylor accepted a 1 year suspension).

Update September 20, 2017 – UFC fighter Carlos Felipe failed a USADA out-of-competition drug test stemming from a sample collected July 29.  On October 20, 2017 it was announced that he tested positive for the steroid stanozolol and was handed a 2 year suspension. 

Update September 25, 2017 – the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Azamat Murzakanov of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on September 2, 2017.  (

• Further update April 8, 2019 – Today it was announced that Murzakanov accepted a 2 year suspension for the above infraction.  He tested positive for the boldenone metabolites 5β-androst-1-en-17β-ol-3-one and androsta-1,4-diene-6β-ol-3,17-dione as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on September 2, 2017

Update October 10, 2017 – Today Kurt Holobaugh was suspended for 9 months by the Nevada Athletic Commission following IV use after weigh-ins for a July bout in Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series.

Update October 19, 2017 – Today it was announced that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been pulled from his scheduled Dec. 16 fight against Jared Cannonier at UFC on FOX 26 after being flagged for a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test administered on Sept. 27.   Further update April 23, 2018 – Today it was announced that his positive test was for hydrochlorothiazide and could be traced back to a tainted supplement.  He accepted a retroactive 6 month suspension.

Update November 1, 2017 – UFC Fighter Brandon Moreno received no sanction after testing positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol in an in-competion test following UFC Fight Night 114 in Mexico City.  It was determined that the substance likely originated from contaminated meat.

Update November 2, 2017 – UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has informed Jim Wallhead of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 7, 2017.   Wallhead noted that the substance in question is Ostarine.  

• Wallhead accepted a 9 month suspension for this infraction.  The reduced sanction was agreed to because Wallhead proved and USADA verified that he ingested the substance via contaminated supplements.

Update November 3, 2017 – Ion Cutelaba was pulled from UFC 217 one day before the event after “the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Ion Cutelaba of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from its investigation into voluntary disclosures by Cutelaba during an out-of-competition sample collections on October 18 and October 19, 2017.”  

• On March 8, 2018 USADA announced that Cutelaba’s infraction was ozone therapy via blood transfusion, a prohibited method.  Cutelaba agreed to a 6 month period of ineligibility.  The default punishment was 2 years however this was agreed to be reduced based on “an individual’s voluntary admission of a violation and/or pursuant to an analysis of the athlete’s degree of fault for the anti-doping policy violation“

Update – November 10, 2017 – Anderson Silva was pulled from the UFC Shanghai card after failing a drug test from a sample collected Oct. 26.   (Further update July 18, 2018 – Today USADA announced that Silva was handed a one year suspension for this infraction.  Silva tested positive for the methyltestosterone metabolites as well as hydrochlorothiazide.  The substances were traced back to contaminated supplements purchased from a Brazilian compounding pharmacy.

Update November 10, 2017 –The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Grant Dawson of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 18, 2017

• Further update March 8, 2019 – Today it was reported that USADA reversed course and stopped pursuing punishment for this potential violation as Dawson tested positive for the M3 metabolite which comes from Turinabol but there is great uncertainty as to how long the metabolite is detectible and USADA did not feel they could prove it was ingested while Dawson was under their jurisdiction.

Update November 18, 2017 – James Mulheron was removed from his bout at UFC Shanghai after it was announced that he had been flagged by the USADA for a potential violation on Saturday stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on Nov. 10

• Further update January 30, 2018 – Mulheron tested positive for clomiphene and its metabolite, hydroxyclomiphene and accepted a one year suspension retroactive to November 17, 2017.

Update December 29, 2017 – Today it was announced that James Thomson was suspended  for one year by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation after he tested positive for the steroid drostanolone at Bellator 191 in Newcastle England.

Update January 5, 2018 – Jessica Penne received an 18 month suspension by USADA and the Tennessee Athletic Commission after ingesting DHEA.  Penne attempted to receive a retro-active TUE but was unsuccessful.

Update January 16, 2018 – Quebec based promoter TKO MMA announced that Adam Dyczka was flagged for a violation of the commission’s anti-doping policy

Update January 25, 2018 – Today the UFC announced that Michal Oleksieczuk was informed by USADA of a potential anti doping violation stemming from an in-competition sample taken at UFC 219.

• (Further update March 13, 2018 – Today it was announced that the substance in question was clomiphene and Oleksieczuk had his win from UFC 219 overturned to a no-contest, was handed a one year suspension and fined $3,600 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (30% of his show money for the bout).  His fate with USADA is still undecided.
• Further update June 12, 2018 – Today USADA  announced a one-year period of ineligibility beginning on December 30, 2017, the date his positive sample was collected, and is identical in length to the sanction imposed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on March 13, 2018

Update March, 2018 – Today it was announced that Azunna Anyanwu tested positive for the prohibited diuretic furosemide in an out-of-competition test administered on Oct. 18, 2017 and has accepted a one year suspension from USADA.

Update March 14, 2018 – Today it was announced that Marco Polo Reyes has been informed of a potential doping violation by USADA from an out of competition drug test on March 8. – Further update October 29, 2018 – Today it was reported that Reyes tested positive for ostarine following an out-of-competition test conducted on March 8, 2018.  It was traced to contaminated dietary supplements (ie a product that did not disclose Ostrarine on the label).   USADA took the position that the two year ban for ostarine should be reduced due to the circumstances but that a suspension was still warranted for ” his failure to thoroughly research the contaminated supplement and supplier”.  A 6 month suspension was agreed to

Update March 21, 2018 – Today Augusto Mendes confirmed that he was pulled from a UFC Atlantic City clash with Mareb Dvalishvili on April 21 after testing positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition USADA test.

• Further update April 23, 2019 – today it was announced that Mendes’ failed test was for Ostarine and that given the likelihood it was traced to a contaminated supplement he accepted a 6 month suspension.

Update March 28, 2018 – USADA announced that UFC athlete Amanda Lemos accepted a 2 year period of ineligibility after an out of competiition test on November, 2017 detected Stanozolol, a prohibited anabolic agent. 

Update April 9, 2018 – Although not a doping violation, Nick Diaz accepted a one year period of ineligibility for 3 consecutive “whereabouts” failures under the UFC/USADA ADP.  

Update May 22, 2018 – Today it was announced that Fabricio Werdum failed a USADA out-of-competition drug test, stemming from a sample collected April 25.  

– Further update September 11, 2018 – Today USADA handed Werdum a 2 year suspension for testing positive for trenbolone and its metabolite epitrenbolone.

– Further update January 16, 2020 – Today USADA announced that they have reduced Werdum’s suspension by 10 months due to providing ‘substantial assistance’ to USADA.

Update July 30, 2018 – Former EFC champion Demarte Pena was found guilty of doping and handed a four year ban

Update September 6, 2018 – The Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations suspended Blair Tugman for a year and fined him $1,200 after testing positive for a steroid in an out-of-competition test.

Update October 26, 2018 – Today USADA announced that the UFC’s Bradley Scott tested positive ” for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, as the result of a urine sample he provided in-competition on May 27, 2018, at Fight Night 130 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.”. Cocaine is banned in competition (but not out of competition).  Scott accepted a two-year period of ineligibility.

Update November 14, 2018 – Today the NAC suspended Sean O’Malley for 6 months for testing positive for ostarine in an out of competition test administered by USADA while O’Malley had an upcoming bout scheduled in Nevada.

• Further update April 23, 2019 – today it was announced that O’Malley’s’ failed test was for Ostarine and that given the likelihood it was traced to a contaminated supplement he accepted a 6 month suspension.
• Further update June 21, 2019 – Today it was announced that O’Malley was pulled from UFC 239 after Ostarine ‘resurfaced’ in a test.  The NAC temporarily suspended him necessitating him being removed from this card.
• Further update January 9, 2020 – Today USADA announced that O’Malley tested positive for ostarine as the result of out-of-competition urine samples he provided on August 6, 2019 and August 12, 2019. His two positives, as well as additional positives collected after August 12, 2019, were treated as a single violation because the estimated concentration of ostarine in the urine samples was consistent with ingestion prior to August 29, 2019, the date O’Malley received notification of his second violation.  O’Malley accepted a six-month period of ineligibility retroactive to August 6.
• Further update January 22, 2020 – It is reported that O’Malley accepted a retroactive 9 month suspension from the NAC as a result of this latest positive test.  Additionally O’Malley was fined $872.16 to reimburse the commission for processing fees and he must pass multiple out-of-competition drug tests leading up to UFC 248. In those tests, O’Malley must not test positive for ostarine over a threshold of 100 ng/ml

Update December 17, 2018 – Today USADA announced that Bharat Vijay Kandare tested positive for exogenous boldenone and its metabolites, as well as a metabolite of tamoxifen, following an out-of-competition test conducted on July 23, 2018.  He accepted a two-year period of ineligibility beginning on November 2, 2018

Update December 18, 2018 – Today USADA announced that Stefan Sekulic, of Novi Sad, Serbia, has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.  Sekulic  tested positive for drostanolone and its metabolites, as well as a metabolite of metandienone, following an in-competition test conducted at UFC Fight Night in Moscow, Russia, on September 15, 2018.

Update January 15, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Jennifer Maia accepted a 6 month sanction for violation of the UFC’s anti doping policy.  Maia tested positive for furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide, and the thiazide metabolite 4-amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (ACB), following an out-of-competition test conducted on August 16, 2018.  These are “Specified Substances in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy”.  The substances were traced back to tainted supplements with USADA obtaining “opened and sealed containers of a dietary supplement she was using at the time of the August 16, 2018 sample collection, and that she declared on her doping control form, were sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Brazil for analysis. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement label, the analysis revealed that both contained the prohibited substances for which Maia tested positive.”

Update January 24, 2019 – This week Walt Harris has been temporarily suspended for a failed drug test in relation to UFC 232 last month.  MMAFighting reports that Harris tested positive for a substance called LGD4033, which is in the family of selective androgen receptor modules (SARMs), like the more common Ostarine… Further update April 22, 2019 – Today it was announced that this failure was traced back to a tainted supplement.  Harris was handed a 4 month suspension by both USADA and the California State Athletic Commission.

Update February 19, 2019 – Today USADA announced that the UFC’s Jake Collier accepted ” a10-month sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy after declaring the use of a product that listed and contained a prohibited substance, and testing positive for that prohibited substance.”   The press release noted the following “Collier, 30, tested positive for Higenamine as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on December 27, 2018. Higenamine is a Specified Substance in the class of Beta-2 Agonists and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List….USADA determined that Collier was eligible for a reduction to the otherwise standard one-year period of ineligibility due his cooperation throughout the results management process and forthright declaration of the supplement on his doping control form. Collier’s 10-month period of ineligibility began on December 27, 2018, the date his positive sample was collected.”

Update February 22, 2019 – Today USADA announced that the UFC’s Khalid Murtazaliev has accepted a two year sanction after testing positive for drostanolone and its metabolite 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one as the result of out-of-competition urine samples he provided on October 3, 2018 and December 6, 2018.

Update March 20, 2019 – Today the UFC’s TJ Dillashaw revealed that the New York State Athletic Commission and USADA informed him of an adverse analytical finding stemming from his loss at UFC Brooklyn.  The NYSAC noted as follows “The New York State Athletic Commission issued a one-year suspension and $10 thousand fine to Mr. Dillashaw for violations relating to use of a prohibited substance. We have no further comment.”  Dillashaw relinquished his UFC Bantamweight title as a result of this development.

• Further update April 9, 2019 – Today it was announced that the above infraction involved EPO and Dillashaw accepted a 2 year suspension from USADA. 

Update April 11, 2019 – Today USADA announced  that Mairbek Taisumov, of Vienna, Austria, has accepted a six-month sanction after testing positive for stanozolol metabolites  as the result of an in-competition urine sample he provided on September 15, 2018 at UFC Fight Night in Moscow, Russia.  The reduced sanction was due to the prohibited substance being labelled to contaminated supplements.

Update April 23, 2019 – Today USADA announced the following athletes accepted 6 month suspensions for testing positive for Ostarine which was possibly traced back to contaminated supplements:

• Augusto Mendes, 36, of Glendale, Ariz., tested positive for ostarine following an out-of-competition test conducted on March 7, 2018. He accepted a six-month period of ineligibility that began on March 20, 2018, the date he was provisionally suspended from competition.
• Marvin Vettori, 25, of Mezzocorona, Italy, tested positive for ostarine following an out-of-competition test conducted on August 24, 2018. He accepted a six-month period of ineligibility that began on August 24, 2018, the date he was provisionally suspended from competition.
• Sean O’Malley, 24, of Phoenix, Ariz., tested positive for ostarine following out-of-competition tests conducted on September 5, 2018 and December 8, 2018. His two positives were treated as a single, first violation because the amount of ostarine in both samples is consistent with ingestion prior to September 5, 2018. He accepted a six-month period of ineligibility that began on September 19, 2018, the date he was provisionally suspended from competition.
• Nicco Montano, 30, of Albuquerque, N.M., tested positive for ostarine following an out-of-competition test conducted on October 25, 2018. She accepted a six-month period of ineligibility that began on November 15, 2018, the date she was provisionally suspended from competition.

Update April 26, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Paulo Costa received a 6 month suspension from using an IV without a TUE or in other prescribed circumstances.  This occurred following his weight cut for UFC 212 and UFC 217.  The lighter than possible punishment was due to Costa providing ‘substantial assistance’ to USADA.  Paulo’s trainer Carlos Costa was also handed a 6 month suspension based on being a “Athlete Support Personnel” who administered the IV.  The bouts in question were governed by CABMMA and the NYSAC who respectively fined Paulo $4,000 (1/3 of the UFC 212 purse)and a $9,333.33 fine (1/3 of the UFC 217 purse).

Update May 15, 2019 – This week Neil Magny announced that he had tested positive for the anabolic agent Di-Hydroxy-LGD-4033 in a May 5 out-of-competition drug test administered by the UFC’s anti-doping partner.  This substance is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) is prohibited at all times under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.   In August 2019 Magny was cleared of any anti doping infraction with the UFC reporting “Since August 31, 2019, several UFC athletes have had their provisional suspensions lifted based on the implementation of decision concentration levels, including Neil Magny. Mr. Magny’s provisional suspension was due to a positive sample containing a prohibited SARM (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator), known as LGD-4033 or Ligandrol, in an amount below the decision concentration level for this substance. Mr. Magny’s atypical finding was reviewed by USADA and it was concluded that no other facts or circumstances were present that would have resulted in an anti-doping policy violation by, or sanction for, Mr. Magny.”

Update May 16, 2019 – ESPN reports that Bellator’s Falco Neto “who fought in the co-main event of Bellator Birmingham on May 4, tested positive for the metabolites of steroids methyltestosterone and nandrolone stemming from an in-competition sample collection, Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation director Mike Mazzulli told ESPN on Wednesday. Neto will be suspended six months and fined $2,500, Mazzulli said.”

Update May 31, 2019 – Today USADA announced that the UFC’s Alex Gorgees accepted a 16 month suspension after testing positive for a metabolite of drostanolone and a long-term metabolite of dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT) as the result of a urine sample provided in-competition on December 2, 2018 at UFC Fight Night in Adelaide, Australia.   USADA noted as following for the reasons behind the reduced suspension “Gorgees immediately came forward with detailed evidence of his use of prohibited substances before entering the UFC Anti-Doping Program and continued to cooperate throughout USADA’s investigation related to his use, even after his release from the UFC. As a result, Gorgees received a reduction from the maximum two-year period of ineligibility for a doping offense involving a non-Specified Substance.”

Update June 14, 2019 – Today USADA announced that the UFC’s Yaozong Hu accepted at 10 month sanction after testing positive for androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione (arimistane) and its metabolite 7β-hydroxy-androst-3,5-diene-17-one as the result of a urine sample provided out-of-competition on March 9, 2019.  Armistine is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.  A one year sanction is the default this substance.  The substance was traced back to a supplement but this was not a case of contamination as the substance was labelled on the supplement.  The modest reduction was “based on Hu’s cooperation throughout the results management process and efforts made to investigate the safety of the supplement prior to use, even though he subsequently realized that the product listed a prohibited substance on the label.”

Update June 27, 2019 – Today it was reported that Ivan Shtyrkov, who was signed to the UFC but released prior to his first bout, reportedly parted ways with the promotion due to a USADA test failure.  On July 11, 2019 it was announced that he has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for boldenone and its metabolite 5β-androst-1-en-17β-ol-3-one in two out-of-competition urine samples collected on March 27, 2019 and April 3, 2019.

Update July 26, 2019 – Today MMAFighting.com reports that Giacomo Lemos was pulled from UFC 240 after a positive drug test.

Update July 31, 2019 – MMAFighting reports that Melissa Gatto failed  out-of-competition drug test ahead of her cancelled UFC 239 fight earlier this month, and the ‘B’ sample test also came back positive for furosemide, a diuretic.

Update August 1, 2019 – Antonio Trocoli, who competed on Dana White’s contender series, reportedly failed a pre-fight drug test taken in relation to the bout.  The test was administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission.   The test was positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid.  The UFC released him from his contract as a result.

Update August 12, 2019 – John Allan tested positive for an undisclosed banned substance following his victorious Octagon debut over Mike Rodriguez at UFC Sacramento on July 13 according to MMAFighting 

Update August 12, 2019 – Istela Nunes was removed from her scheduled bout at UFC Mexico City in September, 2019 due to a failed drug test, sources confirmed to MMA Fighting following a report by Combate.

Update August 12, 2019 – Bruno Silva revealed that an out-of-competition drug test came back positive for a banned substance, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed him, and he would have to withdraw from the event scheduled for UFC Greenville.   Further Update January 9, 2020 – Today MMAFighting reports that Silva received a two-year suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for the steroid boldenone prior to a scheduled bout with Deron Winn at UFC Greenville in June 2019, his manager told MMA Fighting.

Update August 23, 2019 – Last month USADA announced that Alen Amedovski accepted a 6 month sanction after testing positive for Carboxy-THC, the pharmacologically-active cannabinoid metabolite of cannabis, marijuana and/or hashish, at a urinary concentration exceeding the Decision Limit for this Threshold Substance, stemming from an in-competition sample collected on April 20, 2019, at Fight Night 149 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Update August 23, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Roman Dolidze accepted a one year sanction after testing positive for clomiphene and its metabolites M1 and M2, as well as a long-term metabolite of dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT), 4-chloro-18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-5α-androst-13-en-3α-ol (M3), as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample collected on March 12, 2019.  Dolidze immediately came forward with detailed evidence of his use of prohibited substances before entering the UFC Anti-Doping Program and continued to cooperate throughout USADA’s investigation related to his use. Based on the specific details of the case, Dolidze received a reduction from otherwise applicable period of ineligibility.

Update August 26, 2019 – Today USADA announced that CB Dollaway accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC^® Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for multiple prohibited substances and using a prohibited method.  Dollaway, 35, tested positive for anastrozole as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on December 19, 2018.  Dollaway also tested positive for clomiphene in an out-of-competition urine sample collected on February 9, 2019.  Additionally, Dollaway received an over-the-limit intravenous (IV) infusion on December 13, 2018.  Dollaway’s two positive tests and use of an over-the-limit IV were treated as a single, first violation because, after a thorough investigation, it was determined that the positive tests were consistent with ingestion prior to January 11, 2019, the date he received notification of his first positive test. Dollaway’s two-year period of ineligibility began on December 13, 2018.

Update August 27, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Thibault Gouti accepted  a six-month sanction after testing positive for Ostarine, LGD-4033 and GW1516.  LGD-4033 and ostarine are non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents, while GW1516 is a non-Specified Substance in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. All of these substances are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.  Following notification of his positive test, Gouti provided USADA with information about a dietary supplement product he used for two days before returning it to the store when he realized that ostarine was listed on the label. Subsequent analysis conducted on both the open and independently sourced, unopened containers of the product by the WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, indicated that the product also contained LGD-4033 and GW1516, which were not listed on the label.  Gouti received a reduction from the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility due to his return of the supplement shortly after purchase and his substantial assistance. Gouti’s six-month period of ineligibility began on April 25, 2019, the date his provisional suspension was imposed.

Update September 10, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Dmitrii Smoliakov, of Kaliningrad, Russia, has accepted a two-year sanction after testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and intact human chorionic gonadtrophin (hCG) as the result of urine samples he provided out-of-competition on April 22, 2019 and in-competition on April 27, 2019 at ESPN+ FN 10, where he lost by technical knockout

Update September 17, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Sarah Frota Lima accepted a 2 year suspension after testing positive for multiple stanozolol metabolites, including 16α-hydroxystanozolol, 3’,16-dihydroxystanozolol, and 4β,16-dihydroxystanozolol, as the result of an in-competition urine sample she provided on July 27, 2019 at UFC 240 Edmonton, where she lost by technical knockout. Stanozolol is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.  The press release also noted that the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission, which has accepted USADA’s resolution of the case and recognized its sanction.

Update September 18, 2019 – Today USADA announced that David Branch received a 2 year suspension after testing positive for ipamorelin as the result of a urine sample he provided out-of-competition on May 24, 2019. Ipamorelin is in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

Update October 17, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Melissa Gatto Regonha accepted a one-year sanction after testing positive for furosemide as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample she provided on June 5, 2019. Furosemide is a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.  Regonha’s positive test also falls under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which has imposed a sanction in accordance with its rules.

Update October 18, 2019 – Today USADA announced that John Allan Arte accepted a one-year sanction after testing positive for 3-hydroxy-4-methoxytamoxifen, a metabolite of tamoxifen, as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected at UFC FN Sacramento on July 13, 2019. Tamoxifen is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.  The California State Athletic Commission, which has likewise imposed a one-year sanction and will additionally overturn Arte’s victory at UFC FN Sacramento to a no contest and fine Arte $4,800.

Update October 27, 2019 – This week Nate Diaz announced he had an adverse finding following an out of competition test resulting in a whirlwind week where the UFC ultimately announced his positive test was linked to a tainted supplement finding he committed no doping violation and announcing changes to their anti doping program setting permissible thresholds for low concentrations of various banned substances.

Update October 27, 2019 – USADA announced today that Giacomo Y Frederico Salvador de Lemos, of Santa Catarina, Brazil, has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC^® Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for a prohibited substance.  Lemos, 30, tested positive for drostanolone and its metabolite 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on July 9, 2019. Drostanolone is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Lemos’ two-year period of ineligibility, the standard sanction for a non-Specified Substance under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, began on July 9, 2019, the date his positive sample was collected.

Update October 27, 2019  – USADA announced today that Istela Iane Nunes Souza, of São Paulo, Brazil, has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC^® Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for a prohibited substance.  Nunes Souza, 27, tested positive for multiple stanozolol metabolites, 16β-hydroxystanozolol and 3′-hydroxystanozolol as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample she provided on July 22, 2019. Stanozolol is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.  Nunes Souza’s two-year period of ineligibility, the standard sanction for a non-Specified Substance under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, began on July 22, 2019, the date her positive sample was collected.

Update November 15, 2019 – This week it was revealed that the PFL’s Daniel Pineda failed a drug test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission.  The nature of the substance was not initially revealed with the development  jeopardizing his scheduled $1 million featherweight final against Lance Palmer on Dec. 31.

Update December 18, 2019 – Today the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Alex Nicholson for 4 years after testing positive for for drostanolone, nandrolone and trenbolone.  MMAFighting reports that “The commission found that Nicholson’s case warranted an enhanced punishment because of the multiple banned substances in his system and his lack of response to the charges. First-time steroid offenders are subject to a range of 9-24 months for a suspension, but those can be doubled with aggravating factors.“.  Nicholson was also handed a $15,000 fine.

Update December 18, 2019 – Luiz Rafael Laurentino was suspended 12 months by the Nevada Athletic Commission as a result of a positive test for stanozolol, an androgenic anabolic steroid. The Brazilian was also fined 20 percent of his purse ($5,000) and will have to pay an additional $363.40 in prosecution fees. Laurentino didn’t respond to the NAC’s inquiries regarding the test.

Update December 19, 2019 –  Priscila Cachoeira Gomes da Silva accepted a 4 month USADA suspension after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and its metabolites chlorothiazide and 4-amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (ACB) as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample she provided on October 12, 2019. These substances are Specified Substances in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the UFC Prohibited List.

Update December 23, 2019 – Khalid Taha, of Dortmund, Germany, has accepted a one-year USADA sanction after testing positive for furosemide as the result of an in-competition urine sample he provided on October 6, 2019 at UFC 243 Melbourne. Furosemide is a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the UFC Prohibited List.

Update January 8, 2019 – The UFC’s Dequan Townsend accepted a 6 month USADA sanction after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, and norfentanyl, a metabolite of fentanyl and its derivatives, as the result of an in-competition urine sample he provided on June 28, 2019 at UFC Fight Night Minneapolis, where he lost by technical knockout

Update January 10, 2019 – Today USADA announced that Jessica Penne is accused of a second anti doping policy violation after allegedly testing positive for stanozolol.

• Further update February 28, 2020 – Today it was announced that Penne accepted  a 20-month suspension due to a positive drug test for the banned steroid stanozolol. The ban is retroactive to April 8, 2019, so Penne will be eligible to compete again in April 2020.

Update January 31, 2020 – USADA announced that Ovince Saint Preux accepted a three-month sanction after testing positive for ostarine and di-hydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of LGD-4033, as well GW1516 sulfone and GW1516 sulfoxide, which are metabolites of GW1516 (also known as GW-501516), as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on November 1, 2019.  USADA noted the lesser suspension was approved “because he was able to prove that his positive test was caused by contaminated products and the very low levels detected in the products would not have enhanced his performance.“

Update January 31, 2020 – USADA announced that Diego Sanchez has accepted a three-month sanction after testing  positive for ostarine and S-23 as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on December 12, 2019.  The reduced sanction was given because “he was able to prove that his positive test was caused by contaminated products and the very low levels detected in the products would not have enhanced his performance.“

Update February 11, 2020 – USADA announced that Michel Prazeres of Belém, Brazil, has accepted a two-year sanction after testing positive for exogenous boldenone and its metabolite 5β-androst-1-en-17β-ol-3-one as the result of two out-of-competition urine samples he provided on March 9, 2019.

Update February 27, 2020 – The UFC’s Isabela de Padua accepted a two-year USADA sanction after testing positive for 19-norandrosterone (19-NA), the main urinary metabolite of nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) and other 19-norsteroids following an in-competition test on November 16, 2019 where she lost by unanimous decision and an out-of-competition urine test conducted on December 19, 2019.

Update March 4, 2020 – It is reported that Josh Barnett was ruled out of the contest by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations after failing a medical requirement according to director Mike Mizzulli in a statement provided to MMA Fighting.

Update March 23, 2020 – USADA announced that Dr. Lucas Penchel, of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy (UFC ADP) resulting from his complicity in the administration and use of over-limit intravenous (IV) infusions of permitted substances on June 2, 2017 and November 3, 2017 by Carlos Costa and Paulo Costa, respectively.

Update June 18, 2020 – Today USADA announced that Rachael Ostovich-Berdon, of Waianae, Hawaii, has accepted a one-year sanction for her violation of the UFC’s Anti Doping Policy.  She tested positive for ostarine and GW1516 (also known as GW-501516) metabolites GW1516 sulfone and GW1516 sulfoxide as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on January 3, 2020.  The test was linked back to supplements which failed to list Ostarine on the label.  The supplements, however, also contained a listed other banned substance.   As a result USADA reduced the usual two year suspension to one.  She also was granted a four-month credit to her sanction due to time served under a provisional suspension in the latter half of 2019 for an atypical finding that was being investigated by USADA and which did not result in a sanction once the 2019 UFC ADP was announced, making her total period of ineligibility eight months.

Update June 22, 2020 – Today USADA announced that Arruda da Silva tested positive for boldenone and its metabolite as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on May 27, 2019.  He was handed a 2 year suspension after having his ‘tainted meat’ defence rejected via arbitration.

Update July 27, 2020 – today USADA announced that former UFC fighter Gilbert Melendez was handed a 2 year suspension by an arbitrator after Melendez tested positive for GHRP-6 and its metabolites GHRP-6(2-5)-OH and GHRP-6(2-6)-OH as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on October 16, 2019.

Update August 26, 2020 – UFC Fighter Vince Murdock was handed a 20 month USADA suspension as the result of testing positive for GW1516 metabolites during an out-of-competition urine sample, which was his first test in the UFC Anti-Doping Program.  Subsequent to this the suspension was reduced to 14 months after he submitted new medical records regarding his diagnosis and treatment of Moyamoya, a rare neurological condition that can impact memory and cognition. These records allowed USADA to reevaluate Murdock’s degree of fault for his positive test and determine that it was appropriate to reduce his sanction from 20 months to 14 months.

Update September 3, 2020 – Newly signed UFC fighter Oleksandr Doskalchuk of Ukraine accepted a 14 month USADA sanction after testing positive for the mesterolone metabolites 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one, 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α,17β-diol and 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3,6,16-triol-17-one  as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on June 6, 2020. Mesterolone is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.  USADA explains as follows as to why the lighter than normal suspension for an anabolic agent doping violation was handed out:

During an investigation into the circumstances of the case, Doskalchuk provided evidence that a physician incorrectly prescribed him a prohibited medication containing mesterolone despite the fact that Doskalchuk sent him the UFC Wallet Card and requested treatment permitted under the rules. As such, USADA determined that Doskalchuk’s degree of fault was diminished and that he should receive a reduced period of ineligibility.

Doskalchuk received an additional reduction to the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility for his Full and Complete Cooperation. Under the revised UFC ADP announced on November 25, 2019, a Full and Complete Cooperation reduction may be granted in the event that an athlete demonstrates that they did not intend to enhance their performance and provided full, prompt, and truthful responses and information to all reasonable inquiries and requests for information.

Update September 4, 2020 – The UFC’s Deron Winn  was suspended nine months and fined $1,800 in relation to his March 7 loss to Gerald Meerschaert at UFC 248 by the Nevada Athletic Commission after testing positive for amphetamines. 

Update September 11, 2020 – USADA announced that  Jorge Gonzalez Villa accepted a 2 year suspension after testing positive for stanozolol metabolites 16β-hydroxystanozolol and 4β-hydroxystanozolol, drostanolone metabolite 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one, and tamoxifen metabolite 3-hydroxy-4-methoxytamoxifen as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on August 5, 2020.

Update September 22, 2020 – USADA announced that Lara Fritzen Procopio accepted a six-month sanction after testing positive for ostarine as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on February 17, 2020.  Following notification of her positive test, Fritzen Procopio provided an open container of a dietary supplement she obtained from a Brazilian compounding pharmacy that she was using prior to her positive test, and which she declared on her doping control form, for analysis at a WADA-accredited laboratory. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement label, the analysis revealed the presence of ostarine in the product.  Consistent with other contamination cases with similar circumstances, USADA determined that a reduction from the default two-year period of ineligibility was justified. Fritzen Procopio’s six-month period of ineligibility began on February 17, 2020, the date her positive sample was collected.

Update October 20, 2020 – Today USADA announced that UFC fighter Chase Sherman accepted a 9 month sanction after testing “positive for anastrozole as the result of a sample collected in-competition at UFC Fight Night on May 13, 2020.“.  Anastrozole is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times.

Sherman was handed a reduced sanction because he satisfied USADA that he used the substance prior to being in the USADA program.  With USADA noting “Upon being added to the UFC Anti-Doping Program, an athlete who voluntarily and promptly discloses the use of a prohibited substance prior to testing will not be deemed to have committed a violation if they test positive from the prior use. While Sherman provided sufficient evidence that his use of anastrozole occurred prior to entering the program, he did not declare anastrozole on his onboarding declaration form and therefore he faces a violation for the presence of the substance in his sample.“

USADA also noted that a further reduction was granted due to Sherman’s ‘cooperation’ with USADA stating “Sherman received an additional reduction to the period of ineligibility for his Full and Complete Cooperation. Under the revised UFC ADP announced on November 25, 2019, a Full and Complete Cooperation reduction may be granted in the event that an athlete demonstrates that they did not intend to enhance their performance and provided full, prompt, and truthful responses and information to all reasonable inquiries and requests for information.“

Update November 4, 2020 – Chad Johnson was suspended for 9 months by the Nevada Athletic Commission after testing positive for a banned amphetamine at Dana White’s Contender Series on August 18, 2020.

Update November 19, 2020 – This week USADA announced that the UFC’s Jesse Ronson has accepted a 20-month sanction after testing  positive for metabolite of metandienone (18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methylandrosta-1,4,13-triene-3-one) as the result of a sample collected out-of-competition on July 22, 2020.

Update November 23, 2020 – Today USADA announced that the UFC’s Raphael Pessoa Nunes accepted a one year sanction after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and its metabolites chlorothiazide and 4-amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (ACB) as the result of a sample collected out-of-competition on March 4, 2020. HCTZ is a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.

Update December 3, 2020 – The UFC’s Yair Rodriguez was suspended for 6 months following three Whereabouts Failures during a 12-month period.

Update December 4, 2020 – USADA announced that UFC fighter Marc-Andre Barriault accepted a 6 month sanction after testing positive for ostarine as the result of a urine sample collected in-competition by the Nevada State Athlete Commission (NSAC) on June 20, 2020 and a urine sample collected out-of-competition by USADA on July 30, 2020.  USADA resolved his case with a six-month period of ineligibility that is consistent with low-level ostarine cases with evidence of contamination. Barriault also received a reduction based on his Full and Complete Cooperation.

The NAC announced that Barriault has been handed a nine-month suspension, his win over Piechota was overturned to a no-contest. Barriault was also fined $2,100.

Update December 4, 2020 – Former UFC athlete Chi Lewis-Parry, of Surrey, United Kingdom, was handed a four-year period of ineligibility for anti-doping policy violations that he committed while he was in the UFC program.

Lewis-Parry, 37, tested positive for the following substances as the result of out-of-competition tests on September 12, 2019 and September 19, 2019:

• Drostanolone and its metabolites 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one and 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3β,17β-diol;
• Stanozolol metabolites 3′-hydroxy-17-epistanozolol-O-glucuronide and 3′-hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide;
• Metabolites of dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT) or similar 4-chloro-17α-methyl substituted anabolic steroid

The above are 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.

Update January 28, 2021 – today USADA announced that Raquel Pennington accepted a 6 month sanction after she “self-reported the use of two prohibited substances – 7-keto-DHEA and AOD-9064 – to USADA on November 17, 2020. As the result of the declaration, USADA collected an out-of-competition urine sample from Pennington, and subsequent analysis was consistent with her declared use of 7-keto-DHEA. 7-keto-DHEA (7-keto-dehydroepiandrosterone) is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and AOD-9064 is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics. Both substances are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.”

In explaining why the shorter sanction was give USADA noted “During her self-report, Pennington provided information that she was prescribed and provided 7-keto-DHEA and AOD-9064 by a doctor to help treat a medical condition. After using the substances for a short period of time, she conducted research and learned that they were prohibited substances and immediately came forward about her use to USADA. Pennington was eligible for a reduction to the period of ineligibility based on her forthright declaration prior to sample collection and for her Full and Complete Cooperation”

Update February 1, 2021 – Today USADA announced that UFC fighter Abu azaitar accepted a 7 month sanction after testing  positive for tamoxifen and/or tamoxifen metabolite 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-tamoxifen as the result of urine samples collected on August 25, 2020, September 4, 2020, September 9, 2020 and September 17, 2020. Tamoxifen is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.

The reason for the reduced sanction was because “Azaitar provided evidence (including medical records), that he was prescribed tamoxifen by a physician to treat symptoms. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used therapeutically to treat certain types of cancer in females and also prescribed off-label for males with various other conditions. Although the substance was taken at the direction of a physician, Azaitar lacked a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) and his subsequent application for a retroactive TUE was denied due to lack of sufficient medical justification. Under the applicable rules, Azaitar was eligible for a reduction to the period of ineligibility based on the specific circumstances of his case and for his Full and Complete Cooperation.”

Update February 1, 2021 – Last month USADA noted that UFC fighter Andre Ewell received a public warning after testing positive for ostarine as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on October 15, 2020. The reason for only a warning was because “Ewell provided a sealed container of a dietary supplement he was using prior to his positive test for analysis at a WADA-accredited laboratory. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement label, the analysis revealed a low level of ostarine in the product. Because the product was not a Certified Supplement, Ewell faces a violation. This case was resolved under the revised UFC Anti-Doping Policy announced on January 14, 2021. Under the revised Policy, USADA may consider in the resolution of the case – along with other factors – whether an athlete’s exposure to a prohibited substance had or likely had a performance enhancing benefit. Based on the specific circumstances of the case, USADA determined that Ewell’s exposure to ostarine from the supplement product was not consistent with a dosage that would have a performance enhancing benefit.“

Update May 3, 2021 – Today USADA announced that Raphael Pessoa Nunes, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, has accepted a two-year sanction for his second violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy involving his use and/or attempted use of a prohibited substance, positive tests for that substance, and evasion of sample collection.

Pessoa Nunes, 32, tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and its metabolites chlorothiazide and 4-amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (ACB) as the result of urine samples collected out-of-competition on February 9, 2021, February 15, 2021, February 16, 2021, and March 4, 2021. HCTZ is a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List. Because Pessoa Nunes was not yet notified of the positive tests until after all four samples were collected, they were treated as a single second violation.

The athlete also evaded sample collection on January 25, 2021 and January 28, 2021. Evading sample collection, or refusing or failing to submit to sample collection, without compelling justification is a doping violation under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Pessoa Nunes had not been notified of the evasion violations until after his positive tests were reported. Therefore, the evasion violations were also combined into the single second violation.

Pessoa Nunes’ period of ineligibility began on February 9, 2021, the date his first positive sample was collected.

Update May 5, 2021 – Oskar Piechota, of Pomorskie, Poland, has accepted a 22-month sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy Oskar tested positive for growth hormone releasing peptide 2 (GHRP-2 or pralmorelin) and GHRP-2 (1-3) free acid, a metabolite of GHRP-2, as the result of a urine sample collected on September 25, 2020. GHRP-2 is a Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.

Piechota received a reduction to the default two-year sanction based on his Full and Complete Cooperation. His 22-month period of ineligibility began on September 25, 2020, the date his positive sample was collected.

Update June 17, 2021 – Erik Koch, accepted an 18-month sanction for a violation of the UFC^® Anti-Doping Policy (UFC ADP).

Koch, 32, tested positive for 3′-hydroxy-stanozolol, a metabolite of stanozolol, as the result of a urine sample collected on October 3, 2020. Stanozolol is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC ADP and UFC Prohibited List.

Koch received a six-month reduction to the default two-year sanction based on his Full and Complete Cooperation (FCC) based on the unique circumstances of his case. Under the UFC ADP, USADA may grant an FCC reduction in the event an athlete demonstrates that they did not intend to enhance their performance and provided full, prompt, and truthful responses and information to all reasonable inquiries and requests for information.

Update July 29, 2021 – USADA announced that UFC fighter Juancamilo Ronderos Alvis, of Las Vegas, Nev., has accepted a one-month sanction after testing positive for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine as the result of a sample collected in competition at the UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on May 22, 2021. Cocaine, a non-Specified stimulant, is prohibited in-competition and considered a Substance of Abuse under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the UFC Prohibited List.

An athlete who discloses the use of a prohibited substance to USADA upon entering the UFC Anti-Doping Program will not be deemed to have committed a violation if USADA determines that a positive test for that substance resulted from the athlete’s use prior to entering the program. Alvis did not declare the use of cocaine on his onboarding declaration forms.

Alvis received a reduction to the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility because under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, athletes may receive a reduced sanction for Substances of Abuse if they can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the violation did not enhance, and was not intended to enhance, the athlete’s performance in a Bout and they subsequently complete a drug rehabilitation program.

Alvis’ one-month period of ineligibility began on May 22, 2021, the date his positive sample was collected. Alvis’ positive test also falls under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which is resolving the case in accordance with its rules.

Update August 30, 2021 – USADA announced that the UFC’s Liliya Shakirova accepted a two-year sanction after testing positive for meldonium as the result of a sample collected out of competition on December 5, 2020 in her home country of Uzbekistan. Meldonium is a non-Specified Substance in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and it is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the UFC Prohibited List.

Update October 19, 2021 – Rogerio Bontorin, of Colombo, Brazil, has accepted a three-month sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on May 1, 2021. HCTZ is a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy (ADP) and UFC Prohibited List. USADA explained the reason for the reduced sanction as follows:

Following notification of his positive test, Bontorin provided open containers of two dietary supplements he obtained from a Brazilian compounding pharmacy that he was using prior to his positive test for analysis by a WADA-accredited laboratory. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement product labels, the analysis revealed the presence of HCTZ in the products.

If a situation arises where a UFC athlete tests positive and is able to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the positive test was due to a supplement certified by one of the approved certifiers (Certified Supplement), he or she will not be subject to an anti-doping policy violation. In this case, the supplements Bontorin identified were not Certified Supplements, and he is therefore subject to a violation.

Compounded medications and supplements are more likely to be contaminated because they are mixed by hand, and there is limited regulatory oversight. USADA regularly advises its Brazilian UFC athletes of the risks associated with using compounding pharmacies.

After a thorough investigation and based on the circumstances of the case, USADA determined that a reduction from the default one-year period of ineligibility for a Specified Substance was justified. Bontorin’s three-month period of ineligibility began on May 1, 2021, the date his positive sample was collected.

Update October 19, 2021 – USADA announced that an independent arbitrator has rendered a decision in the case of a former UFC athlete Geraldo Augusto de Freitas Junior, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and determined that Augusto de Freitas should receive a two-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping policy violation that he committed while he was in the UFC program.

Augusto de Freitas, 30, tested positive for exogenous administration of testosterone and/or its precursors as the result of an out-of-competition drug test collected on October 14, 2020.

Update October 20, 2021 – It is reported that the Nevada Athletic Commission overturned Josh Quninlan’s Sept. 7 win on Dana White’s Contender Series, after testing positive for the banned substance drostanolone, the commission revealed Wednesday on its monthly conference call.

Update December 23, 2021 – Michel Prazeres accepted a four-year sanction for his second violation of the UFC® Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for multiple prohibited substances. Prazeres received his first violation after testing positive for boldenone and served a two-year period of ineligibility beginning on March 9, 2019.

Prazeres, 40, tested positive for clomiphene and its metabolites (desethyl-clomiphene, clomiphene M1, and clomiphene M2), oxandrolone metabolites, and the exogenous administration of testosterone and/or its precursors as the result of urine samples collected out-of-competition on August 27, 2021, September 16, 2021, October 15, 2021, and November 2, 2021.

Update May 16, 2022 – USADA announced that Erin Blanchfield accepted a public warning for failing to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) prior to her use of an otherwise prohibited medication.  Blanchfield’s violation resulted from her use of topical spironolactone, a prescription medication, which she used under the care of a dermatologist for a diagnosed medical condition. Blanchfield, 23, subsequently obtained a TUE through the established process authorizing future use of this medication in sport.

Update May 16, 2022 – Today USADA announced that Ashlee Evans-Smith accepted a 14-month sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.

Evans-Smith, 34, 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.

Evans-Smith’s 14-month period of ineligibility began on January 3, 2022, the date her positive sample was collected.