UFC featherweight Dennis Siver tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) before UFC 168 in December and has been suspended nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The suspension was handed down today during a commission meeting and along with the nine month suspension, Siver has been fined thirty percent of his purse ($19,800) and his win over Manny Gamburyan has been overturned to a no-contest.
During today’s meeting, Siver cited that he was given hCG by his new trainer and did not know that it was a banned substance. He claimed that he took drops of the substance and he did not inject it. However, the Nevada doctor testified that he believed that Siver injected the substance and did not take it orally.
After Siver gave his side of the story, NSAC Commissioner Anthony Marnell III stated that he did not buy Siver’s story. Commissioner Pat Lundvall would file a motion to have Siver suspended, fined, and his win be overturned to a no-contest. The motion was seconded by Marnell and it was unanimously approved.
When Siver comes off suspension and if he fights in Nevada, he will have to supply a urine sample before he can be licensed. TheMMAReport.com reached out to the UFC for a comment and they issued the following statement.
“Dennis Siver has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) following his fight at UFC 168 in Las Vegas, Nevada,” the UFC statement said. “The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. Siver will serve a nine-month suspension and must also pass a drug test upon the conclusion of the suspension before receiving clearance from NSAC to compete again.”