Breaking: USADA Pops Two … Suspends Both UFC Fighters For Use Of Anabolic Steroids

The UFC ranks were long thought to house multiple steroid users, but until the world's largest Mixed Martial Arts promotion handed over the duties of catching them to USADA, no one knew how rampant the problem really was. Fighters like Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar are some of the highest profile fighters to have never failed a drug test until the USADA era, but they aren't alone. Now, in a brand new release, USADA confirms the suspensions of two UFC athletes, both who tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid of ostarine. Here's their release: USADA announced today that UFC athletes Ruslan Magomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov, of Moscow, Russia, have both tested positive for a prohibited substance and each accepted a two-year sanction for their anti-doping policy violations. Magomedov, 31, and Tukhugov, 27, both tested positive for ostarine following out-of-competition urine tests conducted on September 7, 2016. Tukhugov also tested positive for ostarine following an out-of-competition urine test conducted on October 29, 2016. Because Tukhugov’s second positive test resulted from a sample that was collected before he was notified of his first positive test, both of his positive tests were treated as a single violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Ostarine, also known as MK-2866 and Enobosarm, 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. Ostarine is also a non-FDA approved selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is illegally sold worldwide as a performance-enhancing substance. Ostarine is not currently available as a prescription medication in any country, and its unauthorized use may carry serious side effects. More information about the risks of ostarine can be found through a USADA athlete advisory. Following notification of their positive tests, both Magomedov and Tukhugov claimed they had tested positive due to their use of a contaminated supplement, which USADA was unable to confirm at that time to justify a reduction from the maximum two-year period of ineligibility for a non-Specified Substance. Magomedov and Tukhugov subsequently exercised their right to have their cases submitted to a neutral arbitrator for resolution. Magomedov’s and Tukhugov’s cases were consolidated, allowing for a single presentation of the athletes’ defenses to the independent arbitrator. During a multi-day hearing, the athletes presented testimony and submitted evidence in an attempt to support their supplement contamination claims and request for a reduced period of ineligibility. Nevertheless, after two days of testimony, USADA informed Magomedov and Tukhugov that it was still unwilling to consider a reduced sanction because it did not believe supplement contamination was a valid explanation for their positive tests. Thereafter, and before the conclusion of the hearing, USADA and the athletes reached an agreement to resolve the case, with Magomedov and Tukhugov each accepting a two-year period of ineligibility and agreeing to contribute a total of $10,000 toward the costs of the arbitration proceedings. Magomedov’s and Tukhugov’s two-year periods of ineligibility began on September 26, 2016, the date the first of the athletes’ provisional suspensions was imposed. Pursuant to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, all UFC athletes serving a period of ineligibility for an anti-doping policy violation are required to remain in the USADA registered testing pool and make themselves available for testing in order to receive credit for time completed under his or her sanction. USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (https://ufc.USADA.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (https://ufc.globaldro.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, and periodic athlete alerts.