Four UFC fighters had temporary suspensions extended Wednesday by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
Jamahal Hill, Tim Elliott, Luis Pena and Marc-Andre Barriault failed in-competition drug tests in relation to their last fights in Nevada. Upon the results coming back, the four fighters were temporarily suspended.
On Wednesday, the commission extended those suspensions at its monthly meeting. The suspensions will be in effect until the athletes can have disciplinary hearings when the length of the suspensions and any other discipline — like fines — will be determined.
Hill, Elliott and Peña tested positive for cannabis. Barriault tested positive for the banned substance ostarine, a performance-enhancer in the family of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs).
It is expected that the four fighters will have disciplinary hearings at the NSAC meeting next month. The most recent NSAC suspensions for marijuana have been for nine months. Cannabis is prohibited in-competition by the NSAC over a threshold of 150 ng/ml.
In a statement sent to media Wednesday, Barriault said he did not intentionally ingest ostarine, his positive for a trace amount and that the substance is frequently found unlisted in dietary supplements.
Barriault believes that he took a contaminated supplement, which caused the positive test.
“While I am extremely disappointed in this development, I am looking forward to finding a definitive explanation for my low-level positive test, to fully cooperating with the NSAC and to getting back to work in the Octagon soon,” Barriault said in a statement.
The commission can suspend a fighter for ostarine use anywhere between nine months and two years. Barriault defeated Oskar Piechota via second-round TKO at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov on June 20. With his failed drug test, Barriault is facing that victory being overturned to a no contest.
Elliott, a popular flyweight fighter and former title challenger, wrote in a statement Tuesday on Twitter that he took his bout May 30 with Brandon Royval at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns on short notice. He wrote that not being able to work for nine months “won’t be easy for my family” and is hoping that the commission takes into account that this is his first offense and that the fight was on short notice.
Hill, an undefeated light heavyweight prospect, defeated Klidson Abreu by first-round TKO at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns on May 30. Peña fell to Khama Worthy by third-round submission at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Hooker on June 27. All the bouts took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The four UFC fighters could also face discipline from USADA, the UFC’s anti-doping partner.
Also Wednesday, the NSAC came to an adjudication agreement with PFL fighter Glaico Franca, suspending him for nine months and fining him $3,500 for failing a drug test for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol last October in relation to his PFL playoff bout with David Michaud. Franca’s suspension already expired July 12. The adjudication agreement delay was due to Franca having issues having his dietary supplements tested in his native Brazil and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.