The UFC has announced that middleweight Rousimar Palhares and light heavyweight fighter Joey Beltran have both been suspended following their positive drug test following UFC on FX 6 in Australia.
In a statement released by the UFC on Thursday, Palhares tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and Beltran test positive for Nandrolone.
“Rousimar Palhares tested positive for elevated testosterone and Joey Beltran tested positive for nandrolone, following their respective bouts at UFC on FX 6 in Australia. The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. Both athletes have agreed to serve a nine-month suspension retroactive to December 14. They must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to compete again.”
This is the first positive drug test by either fighter and Palhares is not the first UFC fighter to test for elevated levels of testosterone. Other fighters that have tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone include Chael Sonnen and Alistair Overeem. Beltran tested positive for Nandrolone and this is also not the first time that a MMA fighter has tested positive for illegal substance.
According to Wikipedia, “Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester (Deca-Durabolin) and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester (Durabolin). Nandrolone decanoate is used in the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (though now not recommended) at a dose of 50 mg every three weeks. It is also used for some aplastic anemias.”
Palhares was defeated by Hector Lombard on the main card of UFC on FX 6, so his fight will remain a lost. However, Beltran defeated Igor Pokrajac by unanimous decision on the preliminary card and the fight has now been declared a no contest.