MMA Steroid Busts: The Definitive Timeline [UPDATED 2026 With Testosterone Busts]

Is performance-enhancing drug use an epidemic in MMA, or does the sport simply expose more cases because its testing systems have become tougher? The answer has changed with each era. Athletic commissions handled most early cases around individual fights, USADA introduced year-round testing for the UFC in 2015, and Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) took over administration of the UFC program in 2024.

The Commission Era

JOSH BARNETT

Caught: April 22, 2002, following his TKO victory over Randy Couture at UFC 36.

Tested positive for: Boldenone, nandrolone and fluoxymesterone.

In his own words: “I am a fighter, not a lawyer. I am innocent, and I should be fighting right now.”

Punishment: Six-month Nevada suspension and loss of the UFC heavyweight championship. Barnett had previously received a warning following another positive test after UFC 34.

Date / announcement: April 22, 2002, following his TKO victory over Randy Couture at UFC 36.
Substance / violation: Boldenone, nandrolone and fluoxymesterone.
Sanction / outcome: Six-month Nevada suspension and loss of the UFC heavyweight championship. Barnett had previously received a warning following another positive test after UFC 34.

TIM SYLVIA

Caught: October 7, 2003, following his knockout of Gan McGee at UFC 44.

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

In his own words: “[A]fter I fought Ricco [Rodriguez], I was in for a long layoff. I decided to try some things and maybe change my physique a little bit and get in better shape. But whatever I used, it came back positive. I don’t know how that happened. I did it so long ago and I was way off it before I fought McGee. I think they found it in my fat cells. I guess it stays in there for a while, huh?…I heard what Josh [Barnett] had used, so I used something different and I was only using it to trim my physique. I thought that what I was using, it was going to be out by the time I fought McGee. I fought Gan and apparently it wasn’t out.”

Punishment: Six-month Nevada suspension, $10,000 fine and voluntary vacation of the UFC heavyweight title.

Date / announcement: October 7, 2003, following his knockout of Gan McGee at UFC 44.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Six-month Nevada suspension, $10,000 fine and voluntary vacation of the UFC heavyweight title.

KIMO LEOPOLDO

Caught: August 16, 2004, following his loss to Ken Shamrock at UFC 48.

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

In his own words: “I wasn’t quite on par for that fight, and yeah, I did use some substances, and I did do some Winstrol in that fight, but at that time it was so early that I didn’t know I was going to be tested. That doesn’t justify it, but I wasn’t using it as a performance enhancer to be strong or whatever. It was just something… an extra little kick.”

Leading by example: “Yes, I used steroids in my past to help support my efforts as a professional athlete/fighter. However, my experiences whether negative or positive have given me greater insight into the crutches of life’s downfalls and my decisions today come from experiences. I will say that my choices and decision-making ability are educated decisions and made from a position of informed consent, as opposed to blind guidance. I can be honest about my past and can look a fighter in the eye and tell him/her with great confidence that use of illicit substances is not worth the future health issues it creates nor is it worth the risk they are taking against their license.”

Punishment: Six-month Nevada suspension and $5,000 fine.

Date / announcement: August 16, 2004, following his loss to Ken Shamrock at UFC 48.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Six-month Nevada suspension and $5,000 fine.

NATE MARQUARDT

Caught: August 15, 2005, following his decision victory over Ivan Salaverry.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

In his own words: “I never thought it’d be an issue. I’d been taking some over-the-counter supplements at a Max Muscle store. It was something like what Mark McGwire took, androstenedione. I never thought of that stuff being tested. It was a stupid mistake. People are going to believe what they want to believe, but I’ve been clean in my last three fights — I’m not taking anything that’s not independently tested anymore — and I’m fighting just as well as I ever have…I know some guys just knowingly take steroids, but there’s not enough [information] about what causes false positives, about contamination risks, all that. You have to watch out for things. We don’t always know what not to take. That’s the real gray area. That’s my story.”

Punishment: Nevada suspended Marquardt, then lifted the suspension after two follow-up tests returned negative.

Date / announcement: August 15, 2005, following his decision victory over Ivan Salaverry.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nevada suspended Marquardt, then lifted the suspension after two follow-up tests returned negative.

KIMO LEOPOLDO – PART TWO

Caught: July 20, 2006, two days before his scheduled fight against Bas Rutten.

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

In Kimo’s own words: “I actually had a prescribed medication that was in my system. I had a knee surgery that I had approximately a year ago, so my doctor prescribed me a few things to help me out in my recovery, and this was taken before I even had a clue about this fight with Bas. I was completely done taking it when I found out about this fight…I really believed that it would be out of my system. I knew I was going to get tested, after my previous thing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. I know no matter what now every fight is going to be like that. Now, knowing this and I’m a pretty intelligent guy, when I step into this doctor’s office, if I had any clue and I was going to cheat, I would have had fake pee. There’s a lot of ways around tests if you want to cheat, but I had no reason to do that because I felt I was correct…I don’t want to sound like one of those guys who says they were set up, but I don’t feel like I was done right.”

Punishment: Removed from the fight but not formally suspended.

Date / announcement: July 20, 2006, two days before his scheduled fight against Bas Rutten.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Removed from the fight but not formally suspended.

VITOR BELFORT

Caught: October 26, 2006, following his loss to Dan Henderson at PRIDE 32.

Tested positive for: 4-hydroxytestosterone.

In his own words: “I bought a supplement called ‘Max Tribostak’ at Max Muscle in La Habra, California, which contains 4-Hydroxytestosterone. I had no idea that a supplement bought over the counter at a vitamin store would contain a substance that is illegal in the state of Nevada.”

Punishment: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $10,000 fine.

Date / announcement: October 26, 2006, following his loss to Dan Henderson at PRIDE 32.
Substance / violation: 4-hydroxytestosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $10,000 fine.

PAWEL NASTULA

Caught: October 26, 2006, following his loss to Josh Barnett at PRIDE 32.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

In his own defense: “Nastula has denied the veracity of the test results, claiming that the stimulants were absorbed into his system from over-the-counter supplements and that nandrolone, a mass-building substance, would not have been useful to him as he has not gained any muscle mass since coming to PRIDE.”

Punishment: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $6,500 fine.

Date / announcement: October 26, 2006, following his loss to Josh Barnett at PRIDE 32.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $6,500 fine.

STEPHAN BONNAR

Caught: November 3, 2006, following his second fight with Forrest Griffin.

Tested positive for: Boldenone.

In his own words: “I was desperate. My right elbow had been bad for a while, and I hurt it bad getting ready for Rashad [Evans on June 28]. Right after that fight, I thought I’d have some time off to do some therapy, rehab and heal. And five days later, I get a call to fight Forrest in a month and a half. I was worried. I was looking for something to speed up the healing. I just was worried I was not going to be able to fight, and they needed me. This wasn’t an undercard fight; it was the main event. Pulling out was not an option.”

Punishment: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $5,000 fine.

Date / announcement: November 3, 2006, following his second fight with Forrest Griffin.
Substance / violation: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $5,000 fine.

KIT COPE

Caught: January 25, 2007, following his WEC 25 loss to Rob McCullough.

Tested positive for: Boldenone.

In his own words: “I got a complete reconstruction of the AC joint in my shoulder which sucks a lot. After that the doctor a shot a substance called Boldenone and that is an anabolic substance…What that does is basically, in athletes, doctors will give them those substances which increases protein faster and help me heal faster. It was definitely not for performance… This stuff can stay in your system for 18 months, very similar to Nandrolone, which a lot of people test positive for…I only scored a 7 and it’s detectable at 5, so in a few days, a few p**ses, it would have been gone. Below 5 it is not findable. It’s not that the substance is not in your body but they test for the trash it leaves behind…so it wasn’t active in my body just the s**t it left. Which proves it was very old. So every bit of common sense shows I was not taking it for a performance enhancer.”

Punishment: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $1,167 fine.

Date / announcement: January 25, 2007, following his WEC 25 loss to Rob McCullough.
Substance / violation: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $1,167 fine.

JOHNNIE MORTON

Caught: June 13, 2007, following his Dynamite!! USA loss to Bernard Ackah.

Tested positive for: An unspecified anabolic steroid, with a reported testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 83.9:1.

Punishment: Indefinite California suspension, $2,500 fine and withholding of his $100,000 purse after he declined a post-fight test.

Date / announcement: June 13, 2007, following his Dynamite!! USA loss to Bernard Ackah.
Substance / violation: An unspecified anabolic steroid, with a reported testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 83.9:1.
Sanction / outcome: Indefinite California suspension, $2,500 fine and withholding of his $100,000 purse after he declined a post-fight test.

ROYCE GRACIE

Caught: June 14, 2007, following his victory over Kazushi Sakuraba.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

In his own words: “I have no idea what they’re talking about. Look at my first UFC. 178 [pounds]. Look at my last fight. 180. For accusing me of using drugs…I never gained a pound in my life. It’s not like I went from 178 to 200 pounds. It’s ridiculous.”

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: June 14, 2007, following his victory over Kazushi Sakuraba.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

JORGE ORTIZ

Caught: June 26, 2007, following his loss to Jesse Taylor.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: June 26, 2007, following his loss to Jesse Taylor.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

PHIL BARONI

Caught: July 7, 2007, following his Strikeforce loss to Frank Shamrock.

Tested positive for: Boldenone and stanozolol.

In his own words: “I don’t do stuff like that. I don’t need it. Being big and strong has never been something I needed help with.”

Punishment: $2,500 fine and a suspension reduced on appeal from one year to six months.

Date / announcement: July 7, 2007, following his Strikeforce loss to Frank Shamrock.
Substance / violation: Boldenone and stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: $2,500 fine and a suspension reduced on appeal from one year to six months.

SEAN SHERK

Caught: July 19, 2007, following his UFC 73 victory over Hermes Franca.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

In his own words: “I didn’t know you could go into a store like a GNC and buy something that would have illegal stuff in it, but I guess you can. I was stunned. I didn’t know that. I’ve also started doing my own pre-testing, which I’ll do before every fight now just to be sure…

I took the polygraph test three times to try and prove that I was telling the truth. I know they say polygraphs aren’t 100% reliable, but after three tests you’d think that if I was lying it would have shown up in at least one of them. I’ve got nothing to hide. I’ve always said that and tried to prove that. I have absolutely nothing to hide.

I’ve done everything I can do to clear my name. It’s up to each individual to look at the facts and decide for themselves whether they believe me or not. The problem is that a lot of people don’t bother to look at the facts first. They just hear ‘positive test’ and they look at me and what I’ve done and think, ‘Oh, he’s got to be on something.’”

Punishment: Loss of the UFC lightweight title, $2,500 fine and a California suspension reduced from one year to six months on appeal.

Date / announcement: July 19, 2007, following his UFC 73 victory over Hermes Franca.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: Loss of the UFC lightweight title, $2,500 fine and a California suspension reduced from one year to six months on appeal.

HERMES FRANCA

Caught: July 19, 2007, following his UFC 73 loss to Sean Sherk.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

In his own words: “I would like to apologize to my fans, the UFC, my students and family. I offer only an explanation and not an excuse. I made a decision during a difficult time in my training for the fight that I regret. About 8 weeks out from the fight, I badly injured my ankle during a training session. For the following week I had rested it, rehabbed it and tried to work around the injury. It was obvious that I could not train as required.”

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

I contacted the UFC and explained my injury and how I could not possibly train to the level I thought I would need in order to be properly prepared for my fight. I asked the UFC if we could push the fight out to the following UFC with the chance that it could happen. They explained that they could not do that and that the card had been set and it isn’t as easy as just moving around a fight. I totally understood their position. They asked me to keep them informed should I not be able to fight…

I had not fought for 5 months. Fighting is literally how I put food on my wife and child’s table and how I pay my bills. As a fighter though, even at this level, I live a simple life and I literally live from fight to fight. Not getting a paycheck for another few months and losing my chance to fight Sean for the title was overpowering. Fighting is the life I chose and I love it…

At this point, I was desperate and needed anything I could to get my injury as close to healing as possible and be able to recover from the daily training regimen I was going through. I made the shortsighted choice to hopefully accelerate the healing process and allow me to keep training. Under the pressure of literally not being able to pay next month’s bills I made a choice. I had to fight and did whatever I could to do so.

I hope my fans, students, the UFC and the public accept my sincere apology. Whatever punishment is dictated by the California Athletic Commission, I will understand. I would like to get through this very difficult time and the times ahead and get back to fighting. All the best to my fans and much thanks to my family and friends that continue to support me during these times.”

Date / announcement: July 19, 2007, following his UFC 73 loss to Sean Sherk.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

ANTHONY TORRES

Caught: October 3, 2007, following his UFC 75 loss to Jess Liaudin.

Tested positive for: Boldenone.

Punishment: Released by the UFC. Because the London event lacked a local athletic commission with jurisdiction, he received no formal suspension or fine.

Date / announcement: October 3, 2007, following his UFC 75 loss to Jess Liaudin.
Substance / violation: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: Released by the UFC. Because the London event lacked a local athletic commission with jurisdiction, he received no formal suspension or fine.

BILL MAHOOD

In his own words: “I did in fact start the use of an anabolic agent approximately the third week in August. This was at a time that I thought I was done fighting and was suffering from a chronic joint inflammation of my hip. I did not want to miss the opportunity of fighting for a great promoter like Strikeforce…I do believe that there was no benefit from the amount ingested. I still tested positive and for that I would like to apologize to Strikeforce, Bodog Fight, and the sport of MMA in general.”

Oddly enough: Despite owning up to the steroid use, Mahood tried to appeal his suspension anyway. He returned to action this past March, scoring a submission win over Marcus Hicks at a King of the Cage event in Edmonton.

Caught: October 15, 2007, following his Strikeforce loss to Bobby Southworth.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

And the cherry on the failure cake: “Adam Smith’s appeal was dropped after he failed to appear at his scheduled hearing.”

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: October 15, 2007, following his Strikeforce loss to Bobby Southworth.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

ADAM SMITH

Caught: October 17, 2007, following his loss to Dewey Cooper.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone and stanozolol, as well as cocaine and marijuana.

Punishment: Twenty-one-month California suspension and $4,000 fine.

Date / announcement: October 17, 2007, following his loss to Dewey Cooper.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone and stanozolol, as well as cocaine and marijuana.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty-one-month California suspension and $4,000 fine.

JASON WINTHERS

Caught: November 19, 2007, following his loss to Richard Blake.

In his own words: “I like to take an estrogen blocker, and at this particular time there was a new estrogen blocker on the market. I went to the local store, and anybody can pick this stuff up…Unfortunately with my arrogance, I had no idea that it had an andro stack in it…I should have known better. You need to know what you’re taking. Even if you go to GNC or Wal-Mart, there’s products out there that will test you dirty if you’re not careful.”

Tested positive for: Stanozolol and trenbolone, as well as methadone and morphine.

Punishment: Twenty-one-month California suspension and $4,000 fine.

Date / announcement: November 19, 2007, following his loss to Richard Blake.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol and trenbolone, as well as methadone and morphine.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty-one-month California suspension and $4,000 fine.

RUBEN VILLAREAL

Caught: November 28, 2007, following his loss to Jimmy Ambriz.

In his own words: “I took steroids to help my neck injury heal after I had a discectomy on my C-5, 6 and 7. I wasn’t taking them to get huge or strong, just to heal faster. I honestly think that taking steroids is counter-productive for MMA, they do not improve how you punch or how good you are at subs. They actually hurt your cardio which is the biggest factor in MMA. That being said, I made the decision to take steroids, even though I believe that in my circumstance they should be allowed (for healing injuries)… Looking back, it was a good thing getting suspended. It showed me that I didn’t have to fight every time a fight came up. I had fought unprepared and unhealthy many times in my career. The year break showed me that there will be other fights. It kinda made me grow up a little as a fighter.”

Tested positive for: 4-hydroxytestosterone.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: November 28, 2007, following his loss to Jimmy Ambriz.
Substance / violation: 4-hydroxytestosterone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

DENNIS HALLMAN

Caught: November 29, 2007, following his Strikeforce victory over Jeremiah Metcalf.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone and nandrolone.

You’ve come a long way, baby: Damm became the first female MMA fighter to test positive for steroids.

Another cunning stunt: In June 2013, Damm caught a six-month suspension and a $550 fine from the Ohio Athletic Commission following her decision loss to Jessica Eye at NAAFS: “Fight Night In The Flats 9,” for submitting a urine sample that was determined to be a substance other than urine. Damm was given a surprise drug test (along with five other fighters) during an intermission at the NAAFS event, shortly before she was scheduled to compete. Each sample came back clean for banned substances, but Damm’s raised suspicion, and was later verified as lacking the elements found in urine. Said Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato: ”Even the doctor, when he first handed the sample to me, he said, ‘I’m not a lab person, but two things here. One, this is kind of clear, and two, it’s cold!’” Damm competed two weeks later in Rio de Janeiro, and TKO’d Jessica Suelen in 49 seconds.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: November 29, 2007, following his Strikeforce victory over Jeremiah Metcalf.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone and nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

ALEXANDER CRISPIM

Caught: November 29, 2007, following his victory over Clint Coronel.

In his own words: “I never used anything…If I used something it would be growth hormones, which is what every top athlete usually uses. I took the usual supplements — Glutamine, Creatine and Myoplex. If I had taken it, I would be very aggressive in the fight, and those who saw it realize that I was not aggressive. And this type of anabolic steroid is to get fat, to gain weight, and is used on animals. I had seminars and I had only eaten in restaurants specializing in barbecued meat, and they use this in cattle and goats there and they may have used it in any animal that I ate.”

Tested positive for: Desoxymethyltestosterone.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: November 29, 2007, following his victory over Clint Coronel.
Substance / violation: Desoxymethyltestosterone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

CARINA DAMM

Caught: May 15, 2008, following her victory over Sophie Bagherdai.

In his own words: “I did not use the steroid Boldenone, or any other steroid of prohibited substance. I dont agree and never have agreed with the use of this kind of product in order to win, for this is cheating. I will go to the full extent of my power and the law to prove my innocence in this matter.”

In his manager’s words: Silva’s positive test for Boldenone was caused by his use of Novadex, a testosterone-booster that Silva uses to counteract the low testosterone levels caused by his acromegaly. “He has to treat it,” said Alex Davis. “He spends between $6,000 and $8,000 a month just on medicine for it. He needs to be able to keep fighting to make a living. If it’s between Antonio’s health and pleasing the athletic commission, we have to choose his health.”

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine. Damm became the first female MMA fighter in the original timeline to receive a steroid sanction.

Date / announcement: May 15, 2008, following her victory over Sophie Bagherdai.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine. Damm became the first female MMA fighter in the original timeline to receive a steroid sanction.

ALEXANDRE NOGUEIRA

Caught: July 7, 2008, following his WEC 34 loss to Jose Aldo.

Tested positive for: Boldenone.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

In his own words: “I’ve really done everything I can to turn my life around, and this is a huge setback for me. But it’s something I will have to deal with. During my time off from fighting, I want to speak to kids about the dangers of using performance-enhancing agents and let them know it just doesn’t get you ahead in life. Of course, this is a hard hit for me monetarily, but more so this is embarrassing for me and for all my fans.”

Date / announcement: July 7, 2008, following his WEC 34 loss to Jose Aldo.
Substance / violation: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

ANTONIO “BIG FOOT” SILVA

Caught: August 21, 2008, following his EliteXC victory over Justin Eilers.

Tested positive for: Boldenone.

In M-1’s own words: “In preparation for his Affliction debut against Paul Buentello in January, Kirill spent some time training outside of the Imperial Team family in St. Petersburg. Kirill indicated that during that time away he began to experience complications from a broken nose that he had recently sustained. Not wanting to miss any training time leading up to ‘Day of Reckoning,’ Kirill followed the advice of a coach not affiliated with M-1 who gave him a nose spray commonly used in Russia to help treat some of his symptoms. It is M-1′s belief that the nose spray is what contained the Stanozol. For those that are skeptical of this explanation, we believe Kirill’s account is true based in large part to his physique. If he had been using large amounts of Stanozol on a regular basis, we believe that the frame of his upper body would have contained leaner muscle that had more definition. While we are not citing youth as an excuse, we feel we need to offer the public an explanation and we attribute the mistake in part to the fact that Kirill is just 20 years of age.”

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: August 21, 2008, following his EliteXC victory over Justin Eilers.
Substance / violation: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

EDWIN DEWEES

Caught: August 21, 2008, following his loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

In his manager’s words: “Ken was taking legal over-the-counter products, and based upon our preliminary research, I’m investigating if those products were the result of these findings,” said Rod Donohoo.

In his brother’s words: “Ken did [steroids] his whole life. Why do you think that his mind is so fried? Why do you think he crumbles before the big fights? He’s got no psyche. He let steroids give him a false sense of security and the moment that stuff is gone he’s no longer superman.”

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: August 21, 2008, following his loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

CHRIS LEBEN

Caught: November 3, 2008, following his UFC 89 loss to Michael Bisping.

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Nine-month UFC suspension and forfeiture of one-third of his purse.

Date / announcement: November 3, 2008, following his UFC 89 loss to Michael Bisping.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month UFC suspension and forfeiture of one-third of his purse.

KIRILL SIDELNIKOV

Caught: March 3, 2009, following his Affliction loss to Paul Buentello.

In his own words: “Province…is convinced the positive test resulted from his use of the supplement SOS 500 from Double Dragon Pharmaceuticals. ‘I wasn’t trying to get any super-human strength or anything like that, I just wanted to get some extra water into my muscles,’ Province told Sherdog.com. ‘I didn’t know it was banned but, still, with that said, I am responsible. I should have checked into it but I just want to make it clear that I took an over-the-counter supplement, not steroids.’”

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: March 3, 2009, following his Affliction loss to Paul Buentello.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

KEN SHAMROCK

Caught: March 11, 2009, following his victory over Ross Clifton.

In his own words: “I was caught by surprise with this doping thing. I’d never use something that could ruin my career, something that could bring me any kind of problems…I won some imported supplements and I used it, and there were some prescribed medicines too…For what I’ve heard, the quantity of this substance on my test was very small, and my coach said that if I really had used it to have some kind of advantage on the fights, I’d have to take much more than that, so it wouldn’t change anything. I don’t have a single reason why to use it, this is a drug for you to lose weight and get stone, and I don’t have any reasons to lose weight and fight a huge guy.”

Tested positive for: 19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone and stanozolol.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: March 11, 2009, following his victory over Ross Clifton.
Substance / violation: 19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone and stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.

JOSH BARNETT – PART TWO

Caught: July 21, 2009, before his scheduled Affliction fight with Fedor Emelianenko.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

In his own words: “I never once thought there would be a problem.”

In his own words: “I just want to apologize for what I did. I did what I did because my back was very, very bad a couple months (before the fight). I had not fought for one year. I was completely broke. I have a family. People depend on my money. I was desperate to do something. I know what I did is wrong. Like I said, I’m so sorry. I had my reasons. People depend on my money, and I had to give them support.”

Punishment: Denied a California licence. The bout and then the entire Affliction: Trilogy event were cancelled, after which Affliction ceased promoting MMA events.

Date / announcement: July 21, 2009, before his scheduled Affliction fight with Fedor Emelianenko.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: Denied a California licence. The bout and then the entire Affliction: Trilogy event were cancelled, after which Affliction ceased promoting MMA events.

COLE PROVINCE

Caught: August 17, 2009, following his WEC 42 victory over Fredson Paixao.

Tested positive for: Methasterone.

In her own words: “While I was preparing myself for my last fight I was having a difficult time cutting weight and used a dietary supplement that I was assured was safe and not prohibited from use in sports competition. It was never my intention to obtain an unfair advantage over Hiroko, mislead StrikeForce, the Commission or my fans. I train harder than any fighter in MMA and do not need drugs to win in the cage, and I have proven this time and time again! My only mistake is not verifying the diet aid with my doctor beforehand, and understanding that it was not approved for use in the ring. Unfortunately in the end I suffer the consequences and must accept the responsibility for my actions. I will do everything I can to show my fans that I can still compete at the professional level without the use of any prohibited substances, and ask God’s forgiveness for my mistake.”

Punishment: Nine-month Nevada suspension, $4,000 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: August 17, 2009, following his WEC 42 victory over Fredson Paixao.
Substance / violation: Methasterone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month Nevada suspension, $4,000 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

VINICIUS QUEIROZ

Caught: November 2, 2010, following his UFC 120 loss to Rob Broughton.

In his own words: “I’m very surprised about this. I am very careful about what I put into my body. I’ve never tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. I’ve gone through, and still welcome, Olympic-style testing. I will do whatever is necessary to get to the bottom of this. I’m not a cheater. I might cheat at video games, but I never cheat at fighting.”

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Released by the UFC and required to forfeit an undisclosed discretionary bonus.

In his manager’s words: “I believe in his innocence, and we’re fighting it. We stand behind him. There’s a lot of stuff that doesn’t make sense.”

Date / announcement: November 2, 2010, following his UFC 120 loss to Rob Broughton.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Released by the UFC and required to forfeit an undisclosed discretionary bonus.

JAMES IRVIN

Caught: March 2, 2011, following his loss to Jorge Oliveira.

Tested positive for: Epitrenbolone.

Punishment: One-year California suspension and an undisclosed fine.

Date / announcement: March 2, 2011, following his loss to Jorge Oliveira.
Substance / violation: Epitrenbolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension and an undisclosed fine.

THIAGO SILVA

Caught: March 29, 2011, following his UFC 125 victory over Brandon Vera.

Violation: Submitted a sample inconsistent with human urine and later admitted using synthetic urine to conceal injections of an unspecified steroid.

In his own words: “I can say without a shadow of a doubt I did not inject Nandrolone into my body. I am sorry to my family and friends for the shame this brought to any of you. I promise soon the whole story will be told and I will go through whatever is necessary to find the reason for this positive test. I am at fault for taking a supplement or perhaps combination of something that caused my test result. My team and I will seek the truth. I am sorry once again and truly apologize to the people that matter the most to me.”

Punishment: One-year Nevada suspension, $33,750 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: March 29, 2011, following his UFC 125 victory over Brandon Vera.
Substance / violation: Submitted a sample inconsistent with human urine and later admitted using synthetic urine to conceal injections of an unspecified steroid.
Sanction / outcome: One-year Nevada suspension, $33,750 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

CRISTIANE “CYBORG” JUSTINO

Caught: January 6, 2012, following her Strikeforce victory over Hiroko Yamanaka.

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

Punishment: One-year California suspension, $2,500 fine, loss of the Strikeforce featherweight title and conversion of the result to a no contest.

Date / announcement: January 6, 2012, following her Strikeforce victory over Hiroko Yamanaka.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension, $2,500 fine, loss of the Strikeforce featherweight title and conversion of the result to a no contest.

MUHAMMAD “KING MO” LAWAL

Caught: January 17, 2012, following his Strikeforce victory over Lorenz Larkin.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

Punishment: One-year suspension, a fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: January 17, 2012, following his Strikeforce victory over Lorenz Larkin.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year suspension, a fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

RAFAEL “FEIJAO” CAVALCANTE

In his own words: “I apologize to UFC & the NSAC for my irresponsible action. I made a bad decision trying to cut weight. We are competing in a cleaner sport.”

Caught: June 15, 2012, following his Strikeforce victory over Mike Kyle.

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

Punishment: One-year California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: June 15, 2012, following his Strikeforce victory over Mike Kyle.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: One-year California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

STEPHAN BONNAR – PART TWO

In his own words: “Following my bout against Cathal Pendred at UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs. Brandao on July 19, 2014 I tested positive for the banned substance Nandrolone. The consequences for my conduct are truly significant: the life changing $50,000 Fight of The Night bonus I was awarded has been taken away, I have been informed that my UFC promotional agreement is being terminated, I have been placed on a nine month suspension, and I have publicly humiliated myself. I accept full responsibility for my actions and decisions and make no excuses.

I want to apologize to my opponent and friend Cathal Pendred, the UFC, Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, coaches, team mates, management, friends, family, and most importantly my fans. I believe in the power of redemption and second chances. I will work tirelessly to prove I am a trustworthy person who deserves the honor of competing at the highest level in the sport I love.”

Caught: November 2, 2012, following his UFC 153 loss to Anderson Silva.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

Punishment: One-year UFC suspension. Bonnar had already announced his retirement.

In his own words: “In preparation for my UFC debut, I used a banned substance called drostanalone. It was an irresponsible decision that I will regret for the rest of my life. I apologize to my family, friends, fans, the UFC and everyone else who was affected by my selfish actions. It should be known that my coaches were totally unaware of my decisions, and I am ashamed that I let down the people who believed in me more than I believed in myself. Going forward, I’d rather lose a fair fight to any opponent, than defeat myself the way I have done.”

Date / announcement: November 2, 2012, following his UFC 153 loss to Anderson Silva.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year UFC suspension. Bonnar had already announced his retirement.

JOEY BELTRAN

Caught: January 10, 2013, following his UFC on FX 6 victory over Igor Pokrajac.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

Punishment: Nine-month UFC suspension and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: January 10, 2013, following his UFC on FX 6 victory over Igor Pokrajac.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month UFC suspension and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

THIAGO TAVARES

Caught: February 6, 2013, following his UFC on FX 7 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

In his own words: “It was quite difficult, but I always believe everything happens for a reason. I don’t want to beat around the bush. A lot of people think that I was injecting with some ‘roids and stuff like that. They don’t even know the true story. What really happened was, I trusted a person that I shouldn’t trust. She was an Olympic competitor, and I’m paying for that. She told me, ‘Take these pills.’ I felt sick before the Olympics, and I know your sick, take the pills and you are going to feel better, trust me.’ So I went ahead and I took the pill. Actually, the pill screwed me up. I send you all the text messages with me and her. You see it. I know a lot of people aren’t going to believe me anyways. But, I have the proof and I’ll show you. I was pretty upset with the whole situation, but, I am okay now. She gave me the pill and my mistake was that I didn’t ask anyone. I took it, and I thought it was natural. I wasn’t expecting that a pill I would have such a strong effect.

I was sick, man, you saw me after the fight I couldn’t talk., I can barley talk, I had the flu, cutting weight, I couldn’t talk. I talked to you a couple of days after Vegas because the first few days I couldn’t talk. In the interviews I did, you can see I was really, really sick. I always believed it was meant to happen, because if I would’ve felt good, I wouldn’t be experimenting with something new or experimenting with things I don’t take. In the back of my mind, I was like, ‘I need to feel better, I need to feel better.’ During training, I was about to pass out a few times. And now I am paying for experimenting with something new.”

Punishment: Nine-month UFC suspension.

Date / announcement: February 6, 2013, following his UFC on FX 7 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month UFC suspension.

HERMAN TERRADO

Caught: April 24, 2014, following his Bellator 115 draw with Justin Baesman.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

Punishment: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $1,000 fine.

Date / announcement: April 24, 2014, following his Bellator 115 draw with Justin Baesman.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $1,000 fine.

KEVIN CASEY

Caught: July 30, 2014, following his UFC 175 victory over Bubba Bush.

In (his lawyer’s) words: “Alexander Shlemenko denies the use of any banned substances, and looks forward to clearing his name at the next meeting of the California State Athletic Commission with his lawyer Howard Jacobs. His representatives have requested and are still awaiting the complete laboratory documentation package from the CSAC, given the extremely unusual and questionable findings that have been initially reported. The document request that has been made is consistent with the types of documents that the testing laboratory used in this case routinely provides – without the necessity for such a request ˆ in cases involving the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

It is impossible for Mr. Shlemenko to properly respond to these charges until he is provided with this basic documentation, and it is hoped that CSAC will not withhold such basic documentation.”

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

In his own words: “I apologize to UFC & the NSAC for my irresponsible action. I made a bad decision trying to cut weight. We are competing in a cleaner sport.”

Punishment: One-year suspension, $5,600 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: July 30, 2014, following his UFC 175 victory over Bubba Bush.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year suspension, $5,600 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

MIKE KING

In his (coaches’) words: “I was informed about it this morning, and we’re all surprised. We are waiting for more tests from the lab in Los Angeles to find out what happened. I asked Jorge and he told me he didn’t take anything. We have a good doctor and he doesn’t work with stuff like that. It’s complicated. I don’t have much to say. Jorge doesn’t even have money to buy supplements, so I want to know exactly what happened. We’ll see what happens.”

Caught: August 13, 2014, following his UFC Fight Night loss to Cathal Pendred.

Tested positive for: Nandrolone.

In his own words: “In regards to my positive test results for an Anabolic Steroid. I want to say that I lost the integrity in myself and the integrity of this sport. I will not sit here and deny that I took it or act like I didn’t know what I was taking or blame it on someone else. I am a cheat, plan and simple and there is no excuse or reason that is valid enough to dispute the reasons why I cheated the sport and myself by using it. I want to apologize to Bellator MMA for my actions. I want to apologize again to my hard working Teammates who are not cutting corners and busting their a**es off everyday in the gym to better themselves. I want to apologize to My head MMA coach Greg Nelson for making him and his gym the Academy look bad. He had no knowledge of me using at all. I want to make the same apology to my S&C coach Matt Miller of Horsepower strength and conditioning, he also had no knowledge of my use of this Anabolic Steroid.

I apologize to all my sponsors that support me, my family that loves me, and my friends and fans that cheer for me. I deserve every bit of backlash and hate I’m going to receive from the media and the fans of this great sport. I take full responsibility in my actions and the decisions I made. I also deserve the punishment the CA state athletic commission brought down upon me.”

Punishment: Nine-month suspension, forfeiture of his $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus and release from the UFC.

Date / announcement: August 13, 2014, following his UFC Fight Night loss to Cathal Pendred.
Substance / violation: Nandrolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month suspension, forfeiture of his $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus and release from the UFC.

BRIAN ORTEGA

Caught: August 22, 2014, following his UFC on FOX 12 victory over Mike De La Torre.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

Punishment: Nine-month California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: August 22, 2014, following his UFC on FOX 12 victory over Mike De La Torre.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

PIOTR HALLMANN

Caught: October 6, 2014, following his UFC Fight Night 51 loss to Gleison Tibau.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone.

Punishment: Nine-month CABMMA suspension; his loss remained on the record and his Fight of the Night bonus was revoked.

Date / announcement: October 6, 2014, following his UFC Fight Night 51 loss to Gleison Tibau.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month CABMMA suspension; his loss remained on the record and his Fight of the Night bonus was revoked.

HECTOR LOMBARD

Caught: January 3, 2015, following his UFC 182 victory over Josh Burkman.

Tested positive for: Desoxymethyltestosterone.

Punishment: One-year suspension, $70,490 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: January 3, 2015, following his UFC 182 victory over Josh Burkman.
Substance / violation: Desoxymethyltestosterone.
Sanction / outcome: One-year suspension, $70,490 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

ANDERSON SILVA

Caught: January 9 and February 11, 2015, surrounding his UFC 183 fight with Nick Diaz.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone and androstanediol metabolites.

In his own words: While attempting to claim that the positive test was set off by a black market, Thai sexual enhancer he had been taking, Silva said through Ed Soares that, ”I didn’t disclose I was taking the Cialis because I didn’t think it would come up. Prior to other fights, whatever medications I took, I always disclosed, and I brought the medication to the show. I would be very uncomfortable looking at you and saying I’m taking Cialis prior the fight.”

Punishment: One-year suspension, $380,000 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: January 9 and February 11, 2015, surrounding his UFC 183 fight with Nick Diaz.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone and androstanediol metabolites.
Sanction / outcome: One-year suspension, $380,000 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

ALEXANDER SHLEMENKO

Caught: March 17, 2015, following his Bellator 133 victory over Melvin Manhoef.

Tested positive for: Oxandrolone metabolites, with a reported 50:1 T/E ratio.

Punishment: California initially imposed a three-year suspension and $10,000 fine. Subsequent litigation changed the practical effect of the commission’s action, so any publication should note the later legal dispute rather than presenting the original punishment as the final word.

Date / announcement: March 17, 2015, following his Bellator 133 victory over Melvin Manhoef.
Substance / violation: Oxandrolone metabolites, with a reported 50:1 T/E ratio.
Sanction / outcome: California initially imposed a three-year suspension and $10,000 fine. Subsequent litigation changed the practical effect of the commission’s action, so any publication should note the later legal dispute rather than presenting the original punishment as the final word.

JORGE DE OLIVEIRA

Caught: April 9, 2015, following his UFC Fight Night 62 loss to Christos Giagos.

Tested positive for: Stanozolol.

Punishment: One-year suspension.

Date / announcement: April 9, 2015, following his UFC Fight Night 62 loss to Christos Giagos.
Substance / violation: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: One-year suspension.

MIKE RICHMAN

Caught: June 9, 2015, following his Bellator loss to Eduardo Dantas.

Tested positive for: An anabolic steroid that was not publicly identified in the original announcement.

Punishment: Two-year suspension and $2,500 fine.

Date / announcement: June 9, 2015, following his Bellator loss to Eduardo Dantas.
Substance / violation: An anabolic steroid that was not publicly identified in the original announcement.
Sanction / outcome: Two-year suspension and $2,500 fine.

GLEISON TIBAU

Caught: December 23, 2015, after his UFC Fight Night 77 victory over Abel Trujillo.

Tested positive for: Erythropoietin.

In his own words: “I’m not used to an easy life. Since I was a kid, I have fought for everything I’ve conquered, I have overcome adversities, and I’m really proud of who I am. I face this doping news as another stone that I have to take out of my way as a professional fighter and a correct citizen. As a responsible man that I am, I never believed I ingested something that could fantasize my performances. I make sure I have a healthy life outside the sport, and honest and clean inside the sport. I train hard, I do my best.”

Punishment: Two-year suspension and disqualification of the result.

Date / announcement: December 23, 2015, after his UFC Fight Night 77 victory over Abel Trujillo.
Substance / violation: Erythropoietin.
Sanction / outcome: Two-year suspension and disqualification of the result.

Testosterone Busts

Beginning in 2010, a separate group of fighters failed tests because of elevated testosterone or testosterone metabolites rather than a named traditional anabolic steroid. Nevada and other commissions later abandoned therapeutic-use exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy, closing the regulatory route that had permitted some fighters to use testosterone under medical supervision.

CHAEL SONNEN

Caught: September 18, 2010, following his UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva.

Tested positive for: A T/E ratio of 16.9:1, above the applicable threshold.

Punishment: $2,500 fine and an initial one-year California suspension, reduced on appeal to six months.

Date / announcement: September 18, 2010, following his UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva.
Substance / violation: A T/E ratio of 16.9:1, above the applicable threshold.
Sanction / outcome: $2,500 fine and an initial one-year California suspension, reduced on appeal to six months.

NATE MARQUARDT

Caught: June 2011, before UFC on Versus 4.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone during his pre-fight medical process.

Punishment: Removed from the fight, released by the UFC and briefly suspended by Pennsylvania.

Date / announcement: June 2011, before UFC on Versus 4.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone during his pre-fight medical process.
Sanction / outcome: Removed from the fight, released by the UFC and briefly suspended by Pennsylvania.

ALISTAIR OVEREEM

Caught: April 4, 2012, during random testing before UFC 146.

Tested positive for: A T/E ratio reported at 14:1.

Punishment: Denied a Nevada licence and barred from reapplying for nine months.

Date / announcement: April 4, 2012, during random testing before UFC 146.
Substance / violation: A T/E ratio reported at 14:1.
Sanction / outcome: Denied a Nevada licence and barred from reapplying for nine months.

ROUSIMAR PALHARES

Caught: January 10, 2013, following his UFC on FX 6 loss to Hector Lombard.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone.

Punishment: Nine-month UFC suspension.

Date / announcement: January 10, 2013, following his UFC on FX 6 loss to Hector Lombard.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month UFC suspension.

LAVAR JOHNSON

Caught: March 19, 2013, following his UFC 157 loss to Brendan Schaub.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone consistent with steroid administration.

Punishment: California suspension and fine; the original nine-month term was reported as reduced to six months. The UFC also released Johnson.

Date / announcement: March 19, 2013, following his UFC 157 loss to Brendan Schaub.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone consistent with steroid administration.
Sanction / outcome: California suspension and fine; the original nine-month term was reported as reduced to six months. The UFC also released Johnson.

BRIAN BOWLES

Caught: June 7, 2013, following his UFC 160 loss to George Roop.

Tested positive for: A T/E ratio greater than 20:1.

Punishment: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $5,700 fine.

Date / announcement: June 7, 2013, following his UFC 160 loss to George Roop.
Substance / violation: A T/E ratio greater than 20:1.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month Nevada suspension and $5,700 fine.

BEN ROTHWELL

Caught: October 3, 2013, following his UFC 164 victory over Brandon Vera.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone despite an approved TRT exemption.

Punishment: Nine-month UFC suspension after Wisconsin issued an administrative warning.

Date / announcement: October 3, 2013, following his UFC 164 victory over Brandon Vera.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone despite an approved TRT exemption.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month UFC suspension after Wisconsin issued an administrative warning.

ROBERT DRYSDALE

Caught: October 28, 2013, during out-of-competition testing.

Tested positive for: A T/E ratio of 19.4:1.

Punishment: Denied a Nevada licence for his planned UFC 167 debut.

Date / announcement: October 28, 2013, during out-of-competition testing.
Substance / violation: A T/E ratio of 19.4:1.
Sanction / outcome: Denied a Nevada licence for his planned UFC 167 debut.

DOUG MARSHALL

Caught: December 16, 2013, following his Bellator 109 loss to Alexander Shlemenko.

However, I can’t turn my back to a notification from USADA, an institution with credibility and a mission of stopping dirty game, doping. I will talk to my medical staff in the next days to find out where we made a mistake, and will do what we can in my trial. I fight professionally for 16 years, nine being inside the UFC, and was never in this situation. It tastes bad, like a loss inside the cage, but will be a big lesson, as experience to become more alert as an athlete of what can or can’t be done in the sport’s anti-doping policy.

I’m deeply sorry for what happened. I want to apologize to everyone involved, the UFC, American Top Team, my teammates and, of course, Abel Trujillo, who I fought on Nov. 7. I’m willing to give him a rematch, if he agrees. I’ve fought and defeated athletes that failed drug tests, like Polish athlete Piotr Hallman last September, and I know how bad it feels for the opponent.

I can’t forget to apologize to the fans, everyone that always supported me. I’m sure this time won’t be different, as I’m already getting messages and support through social media.

Fighting MMA is what I know to do, what I’ve chosen as a professional, my income. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I believe the justice will punish if needed, but also clear me if proven.

To the media, I thank the opportunity for 

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone.

Punishment: Temporary suspension and $500 fine, followed by a licensing delay that kept him inactive for approximately nine months.

Date / announcement: December 16, 2013, following his Bellator 109 loss to Alexander Shlemenko.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Temporary suspension and $500 fine, followed by a licensing delay that kept him inactive for approximately nine months.

ANTONIO “BIGFOOT” SILVA – PART TWO

Caught: December 17, 2013, following his draw with Mark Hunt.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone while using TRT.

Punishment: Nine-month UFC suspension, loss of his $50,000 bonus and conversion of the draw to a no contest.

Date / announcement: December 17, 2013, following his draw with Mark Hunt.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone while using TRT.
Sanction / outcome: Nine-month UFC suspension, loss of his $50,000 bonus and conversion of the draw to a no contest.

VITOR BELFORT – PART TWO

Caught: February 7, 2014, during random Nevada testing.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone.

Punishment: No conventional suspension or fine was imposed; Nevada later granted a conditional licence with enhanced testing requirements.

Date / announcement: February 7, 2014, during random Nevada testing.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone.
Sanction / outcome: No conventional suspension or fine was imposed; Nevada later granted a conditional licence with enhanced testing requirements.

ROBERT DRYSDALE – PART TWO

Caught: July 30, 2014, following his UFC debut victory over Keith Berish.

Tested positive for: A T/E ratio of 12:1.

Punishment: One-year Nevada suspension, $5,280 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: July 30, 2014, following his UFC debut victory over Keith Berish.
Substance / violation: A T/E ratio of 12:1.
Sanction / outcome: One-year Nevada suspension, $5,280 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

KEITH BERRY

Caught: October 31, 2014, following his Bellator 127 victory over Joe Pacheco.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone and THC.

Punishment: Three-hundred-day California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

Date / announcement: October 31, 2014, following his Bellator 127 victory over Joe Pacheco.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone and THC.
Sanction / outcome: Three-hundred-day California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.

NICK MOGHADDAM

Caught: October 31, 2014, following his Bellator 127 loss to Ray Sloan.

Tested positive for: Elevated testosterone and THC.

Punishment: Three-hundred-day California suspension and $1,000 fine; the loss remained.

Date / announcement: October 31, 2014, following his Bellator 127 loss to Ray Sloan.
Substance / violation: Elevated testosterone and THC.
Sanction / outcome: Three-hundred-day California suspension and $1,000 fine; the loss remained.

AUGUSTO MONTANO

Caught: June 13, 2015, following his UFC 188 loss to Cathal Pendred.

Tested positive for: Testosterone metabolites.

Punishment: One-year UFC suspension.

Date / announcement: June 13, 2015, following his UFC 188 loss to Cathal Pendred.
Substance / violation: Testosterone metabolites.
Sanction / outcome: One-year UFC suspension.

GILBERT MELENDEZ

Caught: June 13, 2015, following his UFC 188 loss to Eddie Alvarez.

Tested positive for: Testosterone metabolites.

Punishment: One-year UFC suspension.

Date / announcement: June 13, 2015, following his UFC 188 loss to Eddie Alvarez.
Substance / violation: Testosterone metabolites.
Sanction / outcome: One-year UFC suspension.

The USADA Era

The UFC-USADA program began in 2015 and replaced event-centred testing with unannounced, year-round collection. The cases below use the official sanctions register’s announcement dates when a collection date was not available; cannabis, cocaine, whereabouts and intravenous-infusion cases are retained because they were formal UFC Anti-Doping Policy violations, even though not all were performance-enhancing in the conventional sense.

2016

GLEISON TIBAU

Announced: February 18.

Substance: EPO.

Punishment: Two-year suspension and loss of results.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 18.
Substance / violation: Substance: EPO.
Sanction / outcome: Two-year suspension and loss of results.

YOEL ROMERO

Announced: April 4.

Substance: Ibutamoren.

Punishment: Six months after supplement contamination was confirmed.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 4.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ibutamoren.
Sanction / outcome: Six months after supplement contamination was confirmed.

DIEGO BRANDAO

Announced: May 19.

Substance: Cannabinoids.

Punishment: Nine months and loss of results.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 19.
Substance / violation: Substance: Cannabinoids.
Sanction / outcome: Nine months and loss of results.

TIM MEANS

Announced: June 10.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Six months and loss of results.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 10.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Six months and loss of results.

BJ PENN

Announced: June 27.

Violation: Prohibited intravenous infusion.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 27.
Substance / violation: Prohibited intravenous infusion.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

CHAD MENDES

Announced: July 20.

Substance: GHRP-6.

Punishment: Two years and loss of results.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 20.
Substance / violation: Substance: GHRP-6.
Sanction / outcome: Two years and loss of results.

RICARDO ABREU

Announced: July 29.

Substances: An anabolic agent and 19-norandrosterone.

Punishment: Two years and loss of results.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 29.
Sanction / outcome: Two years and loss of results.

NATE DIAZ

Announced: October 6.

Substance: Cannabinoids.

Punishment: Public warning.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 6.
Substance / violation: Substance: Cannabinoids.
Sanction / outcome: Public warning.

ABDUL-KERIM EDILOV

Announced: October 21.

Substance: Meldonium.

Punishment: Fifteen months and loss of results.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 21.
Substance / violation: Substance: Meldonium.
Sanction / outcome: Fifteen months and loss of results.

JON JONES

Announced: November 7.

Substances: Clomiphene and letrozole.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: November 7.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

GEORGE SULLIVAN

Announced: November 8.

Violation: Use of IGF-1.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: November 8.
Substance / violation: Use of IGF-1.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

LYOTO MACHIDA

Announced: November 16.

Substance: 7-keto-DHEA.

Punishment: Eighteen months.

Date / announcement: Announced: November 16.
Substance / violation: Substance: 7-keto-DHEA.
Sanction / outcome: Eighteen months.

CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA

Announced: December 21.

Substances: Ostarine and 7-keto-DHEA.

Punishment: Seventeen months.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 21.
Sanction / outcome: Seventeen months.

2017

BROCK LESNAR

Announced: January 4.

Substance: Clomiphene.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 4.
Substance / violation: Substance: Clomiphene.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

LUIS FELIPE OLIVIERI

Announced: January 25.

Substance: Methyltestosterone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 25.
Substance / violation: Substance: Methyltestosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

TOM LAWLOR

Announced: February 24.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 24.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

VISCARDI ANDRADE

Announced: March 21.

Substance: Stanozolol and metabolites.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 21.
Substance / violation: Substance: Stanozolol and metabolites.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

MATHEUS NICOLAU

Announced: March 29.

Substance: Anastrozole.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 29.
Substance / violation: Substance: Anastrozole.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

LYMAN GOOD

Announced: April 3.

Substance: 1-androstenedione and metabolite.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 3.
Substance / violation: Substance: 1-androstenedione and metabolite.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

JUSTIN LEDET

Announced: April 5.

Substances: 1-testosterone and 1-androstenedione.

Punishment: Four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 5.
Sanction / outcome: Four months.

FRANK MIR

Announced: April 21.

Substance: Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 21.
Substance / violation: Substance: Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

2018

JESSICA PENNE

Announced: January 5.

Substance: DHEA.

Punishment: Eighteen months.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 5.
Substance / violation: Substance: DHEA.
Sanction / outcome: Eighteen months.

FRANCISCO RIVERA

Announced: January 19.

Substance: Clenbuterol.

Punishment: Four years.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 19.
Substance / violation: Substance: Clenbuterol.
Sanction / outcome: Four years.

JAMES MULHERON

Announced: January 30.

Substance: Clomiphene.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 30.
Substance / violation: Substance: Clomiphene.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

CARLS JOHN DE TOMAS

Announced: February 5.

Substance: Furosemide.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 5.
Substance / violation: Substance: Furosemide.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

JIM WALLHEAD

Announced: February 6.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Nine months.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 6.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Nine months.

ZUBAIRA TUKHUGOV AND RUSLAN MAGOMEDOV

Announced: February 15.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Two years each.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 15.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Two years each.

AZUNNA ANYANWU

Announced: March 2.

Substance: Furosemide.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 2.
Substance / violation: Substance: Furosemide.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

CYNTHIA CALVILLO

Announced: March 7.

Substance: Cannabinoids.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 7.
Substance / violation: Substance: Cannabinoids.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

ION CUTELABA

Announced: March 8.

Violation: Blood transfusion.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 8.
Substance / violation: Blood transfusion.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

AMANDA LEMOS

Announced: March 28.

Substance: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 28.
Substance / violation: Substance: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

JOSH BARNETT

Announced: March 23.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Public warning after an arbitrator accepted the contaminated-supplement explanation.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 23.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Public warning after an arbitrator accepted the contaminated-supplement explanation.

BEN ROTHWELL

Announced: April 6.

Substance: Testosterone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 6.
Substance / violation: Substance: Testosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

NICK DIAZ

Announced: April 9.

Violation: Three whereabouts failures.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 9.
Substance / violation: Three whereabouts failures.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA, JUNIOR DOS SANTOS AND MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA

Announced: April 23.

Substances: Hydrochlorothiazide, with de Lima also testing for anastrozole.

Punishment: Six months each after supplement investigations.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 23.
Sanction / outcome: Six months each after supplement investigations.

MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK

Announced: June 12.

Substance: Clomiphene.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 12.
Substance / violation: Substance: Clomiphene.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

ANDERSON SILVA

Announced: July 18.

Substances: Methyltestosterone and hydrochlorothiazide.

Punishment: One year after the case was linked to a contaminated supplement.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 18.
Sanction / outcome: One year after the case was linked to a contaminated supplement.

JON JONES

Announced: September 19.

Substance: Chlorine-substituted anabolic steroid metabolite.

Punishment: Fifteen months and loss of results.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 19.
Substance / violation: Substance: Chlorine-substituted anabolic steroid metabolite.
Sanction / outcome: Fifteen months and loss of results.

BRADLEY SCOTT

Announced: October 16.

Substance: Cocaine.

Punishment: Two years, tolled due to retirement.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 16.
Substance / violation: Substance: Cocaine.
Sanction / outcome: Two years, tolled due to retirement.

POLO REYES

Announced: October 29.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 29.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

BHARAT VIJAY KANDARE

Announced: December 17.

Substances: Boldenone and tamoxifen.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 17.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

STEFAN SEKULIC

Announced: December 18.

Substances: Drostanolone and metandienone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 18.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

2019

JENNIFER MAIA

Announced: January 15.

Substances: Furosemide and multiple thiazide diuretics.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 15.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

JAKE COLLIER

Announced: February 19.

Substance: Higenamine.

Punishment: Ten months.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 19.
Substance / violation: Substance: Higenamine.
Sanction / outcome: Ten months.

KHALID MURTAZALIEV

Announced: February 22.

Substance: Drostanolone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 22.
Substance / violation: Substance: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

RUSLAN MAGOMEDOV

Announced: April 1.

Substances and violations: Methyltestosterone, stanozolol and refusal to submit to sample collection.

Punishment: Lifetime suspension for second and third violations.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 1.
Sanction / outcome: Lifetime suspension for second and third violations.

AZAMAT MURZAKANOV

Announced: April 8.

Substance: Boldenone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 8.
Substance / violation: Substance: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

TJ DILLASHAW

Announced: April 9.

Substance: Recombinant human EPO.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 9.
Substance / violation: Substance: Recombinant human EPO.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

MAIRBEK TAISUMOV

Announced: April 11.

Substance: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 11.
Substance / violation: Substance: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

WALT HARRIS

Announced: April 22.

Substance: LGD-4033.

Punishment: Four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 22.
Substance / violation: Substance: LGD-4033.
Sanction / outcome: Four months.

NICCO MONTANO, SEAN O’MALLEY, MARVIN VETTORI AND AUGUSTO MENDES

Announced: April 23.

Substance: Trace ostarine.

Punishment: Six months each after findings consistent with supplement contamination.

Date / announcement: Announced: April 23.
Substance / violation: Substance: Trace ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Six months each after findings consistent with supplement contamination.

AMANDA RIBAS

Updated: May 3.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Original two-year term reduced after further evidence.

Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Original two-year term reduced after further evidence.

ALEX GORGEES

Announced: May 31.

Substances: Drostanolone and DHCMT.

Punishment: Sixteen months.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 31.
Sanction / outcome: Sixteen months.

YAOZONG HU

Announced: June 14.

Substance: Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione.

Punishment: Ten months.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 14.
Substance / violation: Substance: Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione.
Sanction / outcome: Ten months.

IVAN SHTYRKOV

Announced: July 9.

Substance: Boldenone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 9.
Substance / violation: Substance: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

ALEN AMEDOVSKI

Announced: July 18.

Substance: Cannabinoids.

Punishment: Six months, with three months deferred.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 18.
Substance / violation: Substance: Cannabinoids.
Sanction / outcome: Six months, with three months deferred.

ROMAN DOLIDZE

Announced: August 23.

Substances: Clomiphene and DHCMT.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: August 23.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

CB DOLLAWAY

Announced: August 26.

Substances: Anastrozole, GHRP-2, GHRP-6 and clomiphene.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: August 26.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

THIBAULT GOUTI

Announced: August 27.

Substances: Ostarine, LGD-4033 and GW1516.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: August 27.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

DMITRY SMOLYAKOV

Announced: September 10.

Substances: rHuEPO and hCG.

Punishment: Two years, tolled due to retirement.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 10.
Sanction / outcome: Two years, tolled due to retirement.

SARAH FROTA

Announced: September 17.

Substance: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 17.
Substance / violation: Substance: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

DAVID BRANCH

Announced: September 18.

Substance: Ipamorelin.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 18.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ipamorelin.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

MELISSA GATTO

Announced: October 17.

Substance: Furosemide.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 17.
Substance / violation: Substance: Furosemide.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

JOHN ALLAN ARTE

Announced: October 18.

Substance: Tamoxifen.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 18.
Substance / violation: Substance: Tamoxifen.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

GIACOMO FREDERICO SALVADOR DE LEMOS

Announced: October 24.

Substance: Drostanolone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 24.
Substance / violation: Substance: Drostanolone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

ISTELA NUNES

Announced: October 25.

Substance: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 25.
Substance / violation: Substance: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

PRISCILA CACHOEIRA

Announced: December 18.

Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.

Punishment: Four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 18.
Substance / violation: Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.
Sanction / outcome: Four months.

KHALID TAHA

Announced: December 23.

Substance: Furosemide.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 23.
Substance / violation: Substance: Furosemide.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

2020

DEQUAN TOWNSEND

Announced: January 8.

Substances: Cocaine and fentanyl.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 8.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

SEAN O’MALLEY

Announced: January 9.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 9.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

FABRICIO WERDUM

Updated: January 16.

Substance: Trenbolone.

Punishment: Two years, later reduced.

Substance / violation: Substance: Trenbolone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years, later reduced.

OVINCE SAINT PREUX

Announced: January 31.

Substances: Ostarine, LGD-4033 and GW1516.

Punishment: Three months.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 31.
Sanction / outcome: Three months.

DIEGO SANCHEZ

Announced: January 31.

Substances: Ostarine and S-23.

Punishment: Three months.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 31.
Sanction / outcome: Three months.

MICHEL PRAZERES

Announced: February 11.

Substance: Boldenone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 11.
Substance / violation: Substance: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

ISABELA DE PADUA

Announced: February 27.

Substance: 19-norandrosterone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 27.
Substance / violation: Substance: 19-norandrosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

JESSICA PENNE

Announced: February 28.

Substance: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Twenty months.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 28.
Substance / violation: Substance: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty months.

LUCAS PENCHEL

Announced: March 23.

Violation: Complicity.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 23.
Substance / violation: Complicity.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

KELVIN GASTELUM

Announced: May 11.

Substance: Cannabinoids.

Punishment: Nine months, with five months deferred.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 11.
Substance / violation: Substance: Cannabinoids.
Sanction / outcome: Nine months, with five months deferred.

RACHAEL OSTOVICH

Announced: June 18.

Substances: Ostarine and GW1516.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 18.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

BRUNO ARRUDA DA SILVA

Announced: June 22.

Substance: Boldenone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 22.
Substance / violation: Substance: Boldenone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

GILBERT MELENDEZ

Announced: July 27.

Substance: GHRP-6.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 27.
Substance / violation: Substance: GHRP-6.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

VINCE MURDOCK

Updated: August 26.

Substance: GW1516.

Punishment: Twenty months after reduction.

Substance / violation: Substance: GW1516.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty months after reduction.

OLEKSANDR DOSKALCHUK

Announced: September 2.

Substance: Mesterolone.

Punishment: Fourteen months.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 2.
Substance / violation: Substance: Mesterolone.
Sanction / outcome: Fourteen months.

JORGE GONZALEZ VILLA

Announced: September 11.

Substances: Stanozolol and drostanolone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 11.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

LARA PROCOPIO

Announced: September 21.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 21.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

CHASE SHERMAN

Announced: October 20.

Substance: Anastrozole.

Punishment: Nine months.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 20.
Substance / violation: Substance: Anastrozole.
Sanction / outcome: Nine months.

JESSE RONSON

Announced: November 18.

Substance: Metandienone.

Punishment: Twenty months.

Date / announcement: Announced: November 18.
Substance / violation: Substance: Metandienone.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty months.

RAPHAEL PESSOA

Announced: November 23.

Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.

Punishment: One year; a later case added possession, use and sample-evasion violations.

Date / announcement: Announced: November 23.
Substance / violation: Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.
Sanction / outcome: One year; a later case added possession, use and sample-evasion violations.

YAIR RODRIGUEZ

Announced: December 3.

Violation: Three whereabouts failures.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 3.
Substance / violation: Three whereabouts failures.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

MARC-ANDRE BARRIAULT

Announced: December 4.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 4.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

CHI LEWIS-PARRY

Announced: December 4.

Substances and violation: Drostanolone, stanozolol, DHCMT and tampering.

Punishment: Four years.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 4.
Sanction / outcome: Four years.

2021

VINICIUS MOREIRA

Announced: January 15.

Substance: Anastrozole.

Punishment: Public warning.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 15.
Substance / violation: Substance: Anastrozole.
Sanction / outcome: Public warning.

EDUARDA NEVES SANTANNA

Announced: January 15.

Substance: LGD-4033.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 15.
Substance / violation: Substance: LGD-4033.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

ANDRE EWELL

Announced: January 19.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: Public warning.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 19.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: Public warning.

RAQUEL PENNINGTON

Announced: January 28.

Substances: 7-keto-DHEA and AOD-9064.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 28.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

ABU AZAITAR

Announced: February 1.

Substance: Tamoxifen.

Punishment: Seven months.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 1.
Substance / violation: Substance: Tamoxifen.
Sanction / outcome: Seven months.

RAPHAEL PESSOA

Announced: May 3.

Violations: HCTZ, possession/use and evading sample collection.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 3.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

OSKAR PIECHOTA

Announced: May 5.

Substance: GHRP-2.

Punishment: Twenty-two months.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 5.
Substance / violation: Substance: GHRP-2.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty-two months.

ERIK KOCH

Announced: June 16.

Substance: Stanozolol.

Punishment: Eighteen months.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 16.
Substance / violation: Substance: Stanozolol.
Sanction / outcome: Eighteen months.

JUANCAMILO RONDEROS

Announced: July 29.

Substance: Cocaine.

Punishment: One month.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 29.
Substance / violation: Substance: Cocaine.
Sanction / outcome: One month.

LILIYA SHAKIROVA

Announced: August 30.

Substance: Meldonium.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: August 30.
Substance / violation: Substance: Meldonium.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

ROGERIO BONTORIN

Announced: September 29.

Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.

Punishment: Three months.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 29.
Substance / violation: Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.
Sanction / outcome: Three months.

GERALDO DE FREITAS

Announced: October 13.

Substance: An androgenic anabolic steroid.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 13.
Substance / violation: Substance: An androgenic anabolic steroid.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

RYAN BENOIT

Announced: November 8.

Substance: Modafinil.

Punishment: Ten months.

Date / announcement: Announced: November 8.
Substance / violation: Substance: Modafinil.
Sanction / outcome: Ten months.

MICHEL PRAZERES

Announced: December 23.

Substances: Clomiphene, oxandrolone and another androgenic anabolic steroid.

Punishment: Four years as a repeat offender.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 23.
Sanction / outcome: Four years as a repeat offender.

2022

ZVIAD LAZISHVILI

Announced: February 23.

Substance: Clomiphene.

Punishment: Ten months.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 23.
Substance / violation: Substance: Clomiphene.
Sanction / outcome: Ten months.

ERIN BLANCHFIELD

Announced: May 13.

Substance: Spironolactone.

Punishment: Public warning.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 13.
Substance / violation: Substance: Spironolactone.
Sanction / outcome: Public warning.

ASHLEE EVANS-SMITH

Announced: May 16.

Substance: DHEA.

Punishment: Fourteen months.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 16.
Substance / violation: Substance: DHEA.
Sanction / outcome: Fourteen months.

MILES JOHNS

Announced: July 21.

Substance: Adderall.

Punishment: Public warning.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 21.
Substance / violation: Substance: Adderall.
Sanction / outcome: Public warning.

ELIZEU ZALESKI DOS SANTOS

Announced: September 22.

Substance: Ostarine.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 22.
Substance / violation: Substance: Ostarine.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

BOBBY GREEN

Announced: October 7.

Substance: DHEA.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 7.
Substance / violation: Substance: DHEA.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

2023

HAMDY ABDELWAHAB

Announced: February 3.

Substance and violation: Methenolone and tampering.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 3.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

CARLOS DO CARMO MOTA

Announced: February 21.

Substance: Meldonium.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: February 21.
Substance / violation: Substance: Meldonium.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

JOSE DE SOUZA

Announced: June 1.

Substances: 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 1.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

BRAXTON SMITH

Announced: June 27.

Substance: Testosterone.

Punishment: Two years.

Date / announcement: Announced: June 27.
Substance / violation: Substance: Testosterone.
Sanction / outcome: Two years.

CORTNEY CASEY

Announced: September 14.

Substance: BPC-157.

Punishment: Four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 14.
Substance / violation: Substance: BPC-157.
Sanction / outcome: Four months.

OVINCE SAINT PREUX

Announced: September 18.

Substance: 3α-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-17-one.

Punishment: Six months for a second violation.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 18.
Substance / violation: Substance: 3α-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-17-one.
Sanction / outcome: Six months for a second violation.

DANIEL RODRIGUEZ

Announced: December 14.

Substances: Ostarine and LGD-4033.

Punishment: Three months.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 14.
Sanction / outcome: Three months.

The CSAD Era

Beginning in 2024, CSAD became the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Program, Drug Free Sport International handled collections, and the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory analysed samples. The program retained unannounced year-round testing while introducing decision concentration limits intended to distinguish deliberate use from low-level contamination.

WALT HARRIS

Announced: March 20, 2024.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone and metabolites, exogenous testosterone and anastrozole across samples collected in June, July and August 2023.

Punishment: Four years for two violations.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 20, 2024.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone and metabolites, exogenous testosterone and anastrozole across samples collected in June, July and August 2023.
Sanction / outcome: Four years for two violations.

KHUSEIN ASKHABOV

Announced: March 25, 2024.

Tested positive for: Methandienone, also known as Dianabol, from a February 6 sample.

Punishment: Twenty-four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 25, 2024.
Substance / violation: Methandienone, also known as Dianabol, from a February 6 sample.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty-four months.

KHALIL ROUNTREE

Announced: May 22, 2024.

Tested positive for: DHEA metabolites after he self-reported accidental use of a supplement containing DHEA.

Punishment: Two months.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 22, 2024.
Substance / violation: DHEA metabolites after he self-reported accidental use of a supplement containing DHEA.
Sanction / outcome: Two months.

IRINA ALEKSEEVA

Announced: July 19, 2024.

Tested positive for: Exogenous testosterone in a June 21, 2023 sample originally collected by USADA.

Punishment: Twelve months.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 19, 2024.
Substance / violation: Exogenous testosterone in a June 21, 2023 sample originally collected by USADA.
Sanction / outcome: Twelve months.

HAMDY ABDELWAHAB — SECOND VIOLATION

Announced: July 31, 2024.

Tested positive for: Values consistent with exogenous testosterone in samples collected in March and May 2024.

Punishment: Six months, doubled from three months because it was his second UFC Anti-Doping Policy violation.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 31, 2024.
Substance / violation: Values consistent with exogenous testosterone in samples collected in March and May 2024.
Sanction / outcome: Six months, doubled from three months because it was his second UFC Anti-Doping Policy violation.

BRUNO ARRUDA DA SILVA

Announced: August 9, 2024.

Tested positive for: A low-level drostanolone metabolite in an April 11 sample.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: August 9, 2024.
Substance / violation: A low-level drostanolone metabolite in an April 11 sample.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

JOILTON LUTTERBACH

Announced: August 12, 2024.

Tested positive for: A drostanolone metabolite in a June 8 sample, with CSAD finding that prohibited use before UFC onboarding had not been disclosed.

Punishment: Twenty-four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: August 12, 2024.
Substance / violation: A drostanolone metabolite in a June 8 sample, with CSAD finding that prohibited use before UFC onboarding had not been disclosed.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty-four months.

LUIS PAJUELO-REVILLA

Announced: October 2, 2024.

Tested positive for: Exogenous testosterone metabolites, including 19-norandrosterone; he admitted nandrolone use.

Punishment: Twenty-four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 2, 2024.
Substance / violation: Exogenous testosterone metabolites, including 19-norandrosterone; he admitted nandrolone use.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty-four months.

AZAMAT MURZAKANOV

Announced: December 30, 2024.

Tested positive for: A low level of an LGD-4033 metabolite traced to a contaminated supplement.

Punishment: One hundred and eighty days.

Date / announcement: Announced: December 30, 2024.
Substance / violation: A low level of an LGD-4033 metabolite traced to a contaminated supplement.
Sanction / outcome: One hundred and eighty days.

MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA

Announced: March 6, 2025.

Tested positive for: Anastrozole in a January 13 sample.

Punishment: One year for his second UFC Anti-Doping Policy violation.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 6, 2025.
Substance / violation: Anastrozole in a January 13 sample.
Sanction / outcome: One year for his second UFC Anti-Doping Policy violation.

DANYLO VOIEVODKIN

Announced: March 20, 2025.

Tested positive for: Meldonium in an October 17, 2024 sample.

Punishment: Twenty-four months.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 20, 2025.
Substance / violation: Meldonium in an October 17, 2024 sample.
Sanction / outcome: Twenty-four months.

DOUGLAS SILVA DE ANDRADE

Announced: May 1, 2025.

Tested positive for: Furosemide in a February 14 sample; an independently obtained supplement also contained the diuretic.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 1, 2025.
Substance / violation: Furosemide in a February 14 sample; an independently obtained supplement also contained the diuretic.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

ALVIN HINES

Announced: August 15, 2025.

Tested positive for: Drostanolone, testosterone metabolites and a tamoxifen metabolite in multiple samples.

Punishment: One year after CSAD determined the use predated his UFC signing but had not been disclosed.

Date / announcement: Announced: August 15, 2025.
Substance / violation: Drostanolone, testosterone metabolites and a tamoxifen metabolite in multiple samples.
Sanction / outcome: One year after CSAD determined the use predated his UFC signing but had not been disclosed.

MARYNA MOROZ

Announced: September 2, 2025.

Tested positive for: Meldonium in June and July samples, treated as one violation.

Punishment: One year.

Date / announcement: Announced: September 2, 2025.
Substance / violation: Meldonium in June and July samples, treated as one violation.
Sanction / outcome: One year.

RAMAZONBEK TEMIROV

Announced: October 1, 2025.

Tested positive for: Trimetazidine in two out-of-competition samples collected in June and July.

Punishment: Twelve months.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 1, 2025.
Substance / violation: Trimetazidine in two out-of-competition samples collected in June and July.
Sanction / outcome: Twelve months.

CONOR MCGREGOR

Announced: October 7, 2025.

Violation: Three whereabouts failures on June 13, September 19 and September 20, 2024.

Punishment: Eighteen months, reduced from the standard twenty-four months based on cooperation and case circumstances.

Date / announcement: Announced: October 7, 2025.
Substance / violation: Three whereabouts failures on June 13, September 19 and September 20, 2024.
Sanction / outcome: Eighteen months, reduced from the standard twenty-four months based on cooperation and case circumstances.

MOHAMMED USMAN

Announced: January 15, 2026.

Tested positive for: Testosterone. Usman subsequently admitted using testosterone and BPC-157 while recovering from injury.

Punishment: Thirty months, combining the standard two-year term with an additional six months for the surrounding conduct.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 15, 2026.
Substance / violation: Testosterone. Usman subsequently admitted using testosterone and BPC-157 while recovering from injury.
Sanction / outcome: Thirty months, combining the standard two-year term with an additional six months for the surrounding conduct.

IASMIN LUCINDO

Announced: January 27, 2026.

Tested positive for: Mesterolone in a September 24, 2025 sample.

Punishment: Nine months after CSAD found evidence against intentional use and considered possible pharmacy-compounding contamination.

Date / announcement: Announced: January 27, 2026.
Substance / violation: Mesterolone in a September 24, 2025 sample.
Sanction / outcome: Nine months after CSAD found evidence against intentional use and considered possible pharmacy-compounding contamination.

CAROLINE FORO ANTUNES

Announced: March 31, 2026.

Tested positive for: Furosemide in a January 6 sample; testing linked the result to an uncertified dietary supplement.

Punishment: Six months.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 31, 2026.
Substance / violation: Furosemide in a January 6 sample; testing linked the result to an uncertified dietary supplement.
Sanction / outcome: Six months.

ALIBI IDIRIS

Announced: March 31, 2026.

Tested positive for: Hydrochlorothiazide from an in-competition sample collected February 21 after use of a diuretic during fight week.

Punishment: Twelve months; the Texas commission retained jurisdiction over the bout result.

Date / announcement: Announced: March 31, 2026.
Substance / violation: Hydrochlorothiazide from an in-competition sample collected February 21 after use of a diuretic during fight week.
Sanction / outcome: Twelve months; the Texas commission retained jurisdiction over the bout result.

BASSIL HAFEZ

Announced: May 27, 2026.

Tested positive for: Ipamorelin in a March 20 out-of-competition sample.

Punishment: Twelve months. CSAD connected the violation to a wellness-clinic product used during injury recovery but found gross negligence.

Date / announcement: Announced: May 27, 2026.
Substance / violation: Ipamorelin in a March 20 out-of-competition sample.
Sanction / outcome: Twelve months. CSAD connected the violation to a wellness-clinic product used during injury recovery but found gross negligence.

VOLKAN OEZDEMIR

Announced: July 17, 2026.

Tested positive for: EPO in urine and blood samples collected February 16 and March 5.

Punishment: Sixteen months, reflecting a reduction for extensive cooperation.

Date / announcement: Announced: July 17, 2026.
Substance / violation: EPO in urine and blood samples collected February 16 and March 5.
Sanction / outcome: Sixteen months, reflecting a reduction for extensive cooperation.

Notable Related Cases

KEVIN RANDLEMAN

Submitted a sample after PRIDE 32 that Nevada said lacked normal human hormones. He admitted supplying a fake sample to conceal medications and received a one-year suspension.

Case summary: Submitted a sample after PRIDE 32 that Nevada said lacked normal human hormones. He admitted supplying a fake sample to conceal medications and received a one-year suspension.

DENNIS SIVER

Tested positive for hCG following UFC 168.

Case summary: Tested positive for hCG following UFC 168.

WANDERLEI SILVA

Evaded a surprise Nevada test in 2014, producing a long-running regulatory case rather than an analytical positive.

Case summary: Evaded a surprise Nevada test in 2014, producing a long-running regulatory case rather than an analytical positive.

CHAEL SONNEN

Tested positive in 2014 for anastrozole and clomiphene and later for HGH, EPO and hCG, after which he retired.

HGH clarification: In 2014, Sonnen faced two separate Nevada testing matters. The first involved anastrozole and clomiphene; a subsequent test identified human growth hormone (HGH), erythropoietin (EPO) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These are distinct from his 2010 elevated-testosterone case. The reported 2014 findings should not be conflated with a single positive test or described as an HGH-only charge.

Case summary: Tested positive in 2014 for anastrozole and clomiphene and later for HGH, EPO and hCG, after which he retired. HGH clarification: In 2014, Sonnen faced two separate Nevada testing matters. The first involved anastrozole and clomiphene; a subsequent test identified human growth hormone (HGH), erythropoietin (EPO) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These are distinct from his 2010 elevated-testosterone case. The reported 2014 findings should n

ALI BAGAUTINOV

Tested positive for EPO in connection with UFC 174.

Case summary: Tested positive for EPO in connection with UFC 174.

MIRKO CRO COP

Admitted using HGH during injury treatment and received a two-year USADA sanction, although the laboratory analysis did not establish HGH in his samples.

Case summary: Admitted using HGH during injury treatment and received a two-year USADA sanction, although the laboratory analysis did not establish HGH in his samples.

CUNG LE

Was initially accused of an HGH violation after his 2014 fight with Michael Bisping, but the UFC rescinded the suspension because of deficiencies in the testing process. These cases belong in the historical record, but their circumstances differ from a straightforward confirmed analytical steroid positive.

From commission-run post-fight tests to year-round USADA oversight and the UFC’s current CSAD program, MMA’s anti-doping landscape has changed dramatically. The substances, explanations and punishments have varied, but one thing has remained constant: every failed test becomes part of a fighter’s legacy. Contaminated supplements, medical treatments and administrative mistakes can complicate individual cases, so not every violation should be treated identically.

Case summary: Was initially accused of an HGH violation after his 2014 fight with Michael Bisping, but the UFC rescinded the suspension because of deficiencies in the testing process. These cases belong in the historical record, but their circumstances differ from a straightforward confirmed analytical steroid positive. From commission-run post-fight tests to year-round USADA oversight and the UFC’s current CSAD program, MMA’s anti-doping landscape has changed

MMA PED Violations: Complete Athlete Summary

Summary of the cases documented above. Repeat offenses appear as separate rows. Dates are announcement or test dates as described in the article.

Athlete	Date / announcement	Substance / offense	Sanction / outcome
JOSH BARNETT	April 22, 2002, following his TKO victory over Randy Couture at UFC 36.	Boldenone, nandrolone and fluoxymesterone.	Six-month Nevada suspension and loss of the UFC heavyweight championship. Barnett had previously received a warning following another positive test after UFC 34.
TIM SYLVIA	October 7, 2003, following his knockout of Gan McGee at UFC 44.	Stanozolol.	Six-month Nevada suspension, $10,000 fine and voluntary vacation of the UFC heavyweight title.
KIMO LEOPOLDO	August 16, 2004, following his loss to Ken Shamrock at UFC 48.	Stanozolol.	Six-month Nevada suspension and $5,000 fine.
NATE MARQUARDT	August 15, 2005, following his decision victory over Ivan Salaverry.	Nandrolone.	Nevada suspended Marquardt, then lifted the suspension after two follow-up tests returned negative.
KIMO LEOPOLDO – PART TWO	July 20, 2006, two days before his scheduled fight against Bas Rutten.	Stanozolol.	Removed from the fight but not formally suspended.
VITOR BELFORT	October 26, 2006, following his loss to Dan Henderson at PRIDE 32.	4-hydroxytestosterone.	Nine-month Nevada suspension and $10,000 fine.
PAWEL NASTULA	October 26, 2006, following his loss to Josh Barnett at PRIDE 32.	Nandrolone.	Nine-month Nevada suspension and $6,500 fine.
STEPHAN BONNAR	November 3, 2006, following his second fight with Forrest Griffin.	Boldenone.	Nine-month Nevada suspension and $5,000 fine.
KIT COPE	January 25, 2007, following his WEC 25 loss to Rob McCullough.	Boldenone.	Nine-month Nevada suspension and $1,167 fine.
JOHNNIE MORTON	June 13, 2007, following his Dynamite!! USA loss to Bernard Ackah.	An unspecified anabolic steroid, with a reported testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 83.9:1.	Indefinite California suspension, $2,500 fine and withholding of his $100,000 purse after he declined a post-fight test.
ROYCE GRACIE	June 14, 2007, following his victory over Kazushi Sakuraba.	Nandrolone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
JORGE ORTIZ	June 26, 2007, following his loss to Jesse Taylor.	Nandrolone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
PHIL BARONI	July 7, 2007, following his Strikeforce loss to Frank Shamrock.	Boldenone and stanozolol.	$2,500 fine and a suspension reduced on appeal from one year to six months.
SEAN SHERK	July 19, 2007, following his UFC 73 victory over Hermes Franca.	Nandrolone.	Loss of the UFC lightweight title, $2,500 fine and a California suspension reduced from one year to six months on appeal.
HERMES FRANCA	July 19, 2007, following his UFC 73 loss to Sean Sherk.	Drostanolone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
ANTHONY TORRES	October 3, 2007, following his UFC 75 loss to Jess Liaudin.	Boldenone.	Released by the UFC. Because the London event lacked a local athletic commission with jurisdiction, he received no formal suspension or fine.
BILL MAHOOD	October 15, 2007, following his Strikeforce loss to Bobby Southworth.	Drostanolone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
ADAM SMITH	October 17, 2007, following his loss to Dewey Cooper.	Nandrolone and stanozolol, as well as cocaine and marijuana.	Twenty-one-month California suspension and $4,000 fine.
JASON WINTHERS	November 19, 2007, following his loss to Richard Blake.	Stanozolol and trenbolone, as well as methadone and morphine.	Twenty-one-month California suspension and $4,000 fine.
RUBEN VILLAREAL	November 28, 2007, following his loss to Jimmy Ambriz.	4-hydroxytestosterone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
DENNIS HALLMAN	November 29, 2007, following his Strikeforce victory over Jeremiah Metcalf.	Drostanolone and nandrolone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
ALEXANDER CRISPIM	November 29, 2007, following his victory over Clint Coronel.	Desoxymethyltestosterone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
CARINA DAMM	May 15, 2008, following her victory over Sophie Bagherdai.	Nandrolone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine. Damm became the first female MMA fighter in the original timeline to receive a steroid sanction.
ALEXANDRE NOGUEIRA	July 7, 2008, following his WEC 34 loss to Jose Aldo.	Boldenone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
ANTONIO “BIG FOOT” SILVA	August 21, 2008, following his EliteXC victory over Justin Eilers.	Boldenone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
EDWIN DEWEES	August 21, 2008, following his loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.	Nandrolone.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
CHRIS LEBEN	November 3, 2008, following his UFC 89 loss to Michael Bisping.	Stanozolol.	Nine-month UFC suspension and forfeiture of one-third of his purse.
KIRILL SIDELNIKOV	March 3, 2009, following his Affliction loss to Paul Buentello.	Stanozolol.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
KEN SHAMROCK	March 11, 2009, following his victory over Ross Clifton.	19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone and stanozolol.	One-year California suspension and $2,500 fine.
JOSH BARNETT – PART TWO	July 21, 2009, before his scheduled Affliction fight with Fedor Emelianenko.	Drostanolone.	Denied a California licence. The bout and then the entire Affliction: Trilogy event were cancelled, after which Affliction ceased promoting MMA events.
COLE PROVINCE	August 17, 2009, following his WEC 42 victory over Fredson Paixao.	Methasterone.	Nine-month Nevada suspension, $4,000 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
VINICIUS QUEIROZ	November 2, 2010, following his UFC 120 loss to Rob Broughton.	Stanozolol.	Released by the UFC and required to forfeit an undisclosed discretionary bonus.
JAMES IRVIN	March 2, 2011, following his loss to Jorge Oliveira.	Epitrenbolone.	One-year California suspension and an undisclosed fine.
THIAGO SILVA	March 29, 2011, following his UFC 125 victory over Brandon Vera.	Submitted a sample inconsistent with human urine and later admitted using synthetic urine to conceal injections of an unspecified steroid.	One-year Nevada suspension, $33,750 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
CRISTIANE “CYBORG” JUSTINO	January 6, 2012, following her Strikeforce victory over Hiroko Yamanaka.	Stanozolol.	One-year California suspension, $2,500 fine, loss of the Strikeforce featherweight title and conversion of the result to a no contest.
MUHAMMAD “KING MO” LAWAL	January 17, 2012, following his Strikeforce victory over Lorenz Larkin.	Drostanolone.	One-year suspension, a fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
RAFAEL “FEIJAO” CAVALCANTE	June 15, 2012, following his Strikeforce victory over Mike Kyle.	Stanozolol.	One-year California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
STEPHAN BONNAR – PART TWO	November 2, 2012, following his UFC 153 loss to Anderson Silva.	Drostanolone.	One-year UFC suspension. Bonnar had already announced his retirement.
JOEY BELTRAN	January 10, 2013, following his UFC on FX 6 victory over Igor Pokrajac.	Nandrolone.	Nine-month UFC suspension and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
THIAGO TAVARES	February 6, 2013, following his UFC on FX 7 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.	Drostanolone.	Nine-month UFC suspension.
HERMAN TERRADO	April 24, 2014, following his Bellator 115 draw with Justin Baesman.	Drostanolone.	Nine-month Nevada suspension and $1,000 fine.
KEVIN CASEY	July 30, 2014, following his UFC 175 victory over Bubba Bush.	Drostanolone.	One-year suspension, $5,600 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
MIKE KING	August 13, 2014, following his UFC Fight Night loss to Cathal Pendred.	Nandrolone.	Nine-month suspension, forfeiture of his $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus and release from the UFC.
BRIAN ORTEGA	August 22, 2014, following his UFC on FOX 12 victory over Mike De La Torre.	Drostanolone.	Nine-month California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
PIOTR HALLMANN	October 6, 2014, following his UFC Fight Night 51 loss to Gleison Tibau.	Drostanolone.	Nine-month CABMMA suspension; his loss remained on the record and his Fight of the Night bonus was revoked.
HECTOR LOMBARD	January 3, 2015, following his UFC 182 victory over Josh Burkman.	Desoxymethyltestosterone.	One-year suspension, $70,490 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
ANDERSON SILVA	January 9 and February 11, 2015, surrounding his UFC 183 fight with Nick Diaz.	Drostanolone and androstanediol metabolites.	One-year suspension, $380,000 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
ALEXANDER SHLEMENKO	March 17, 2015, following his Bellator 133 victory over Melvin Manhoef.	Oxandrolone metabolites, with a reported 50:1 T/E ratio.	California initially imposed a three-year suspension and $10,000 fine. Subsequent litigation changed the practical effect of the commission’s action, so any publication should note the later legal dispute rather than presenting the original punishment as the final word.
JORGE DE OLIVEIRA	April 9, 2015, following his UFC Fight Night 62 loss to Christos Giagos.	Stanozolol.	One-year suspension.
MIKE RICHMAN	June 9, 2015, following his Bellator loss to Eduardo Dantas.	An anabolic steroid that was not publicly identified in the original announcement.	Two-year suspension and $2,500 fine.
GLEISON TIBAU	December 23, 2015, after his UFC Fight Night 77 victory over Abel Trujillo.	Erythropoietin.	Two-year suspension and disqualification of the result.
CHAEL SONNEN	September 18, 2010, following his UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva.	A T/E ratio of 16.9:1, above the applicable threshold.	$2,500 fine and an initial one-year California suspension, reduced on appeal to six months.
NATE MARQUARDT	June 2011, before UFC on Versus 4.	Elevated testosterone during his pre-fight medical process.	Removed from the fight, released by the UFC and briefly suspended by Pennsylvania.
ALISTAIR OVEREEM	April 4, 2012, during random testing before UFC 146.	A T/E ratio reported at 14:1.	Denied a Nevada licence and barred from reapplying for nine months.
ROUSIMAR PALHARES	January 10, 2013, following his UFC on FX 6 loss to Hector Lombard.	Elevated testosterone.	Nine-month UFC suspension.
LAVAR JOHNSON	March 19, 2013, following his UFC 157 loss to Brendan Schaub.	Elevated testosterone consistent with steroid administration.	California suspension and fine; the original nine-month term was reported as reduced to six months. The UFC also released Johnson.
BRIAN BOWLES	June 7, 2013, following his UFC 160 loss to George Roop.	A T/E ratio greater than 20:1.	Nine-month Nevada suspension and $5,700 fine.
BEN ROTHWELL	October 3, 2013, following his UFC 164 victory over Brandon Vera.	Elevated testosterone despite an approved TRT exemption.	Nine-month UFC suspension after Wisconsin issued an administrative warning.
ROBERT DRYSDALE	October 28, 2013, during out-of-competition testing.	A T/E ratio of 19.4:1.	Denied a Nevada licence for his planned UFC 167 debut.
DOUG MARSHALL	December 16, 2013, following his Bellator 109 loss to Alexander Shlemenko.	Elevated testosterone.	Temporary suspension and $500 fine, followed by a licensing delay that kept him inactive for approximately nine months.
ANTONIO “BIGFOOT” SILVA – PART TWO	December 17, 2013, following his draw with Mark Hunt.	Elevated testosterone while using TRT.	Nine-month UFC suspension, loss of his $50,000 bonus and conversion of the draw to a no contest.
VITOR BELFORT – PART TWO	February 7, 2014, during random Nevada testing.	Elevated testosterone.	No conventional suspension or fine was imposed; Nevada later granted a conditional licence with enhanced testing requirements.
ROBERT DRYSDALE – PART TWO	July 30, 2014, following his UFC debut victory over Keith Berish.	A T/E ratio of 12:1.	One-year Nevada suspension, $5,280 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
KEITH BERRY	October 31, 2014, following his Bellator 127 victory over Joe Pacheco.	Elevated testosterone and THC.	Three-hundred-day California suspension, $2,500 fine and conversion of the victory to a no contest.
NICK MOGHADDAM	October 31, 2014, following his Bellator 127 loss to Ray Sloan.	Elevated testosterone and THC.	Three-hundred-day California suspension and $1,000 fine; the loss remained.
AUGUSTO MONTANO	June 13, 2015, following his UFC 188 loss to Cathal Pendred.	Testosterone metabolites.	One-year UFC suspension.
GILBERT MELENDEZ	June 13, 2015, following his UFC 188 loss to Eddie Alvarez.	Testosterone metabolites.	One-year UFC suspension.
GLEISON TIBAU	Announced: February 18.	Substance: EPO.	Two-year suspension and loss of results.
YOEL ROMERO	Announced: April 4.	Substance: Ibutamoren.	Six months after supplement contamination was confirmed.
DIEGO BRANDAO	Announced: May 19.	Substance: Cannabinoids.	Nine months and loss of results.
TIM MEANS	Announced: June 10.	Substance: Ostarine.	Six months and loss of results.
BJ PENN	Announced: June 27.	Prohibited intravenous infusion.	Six months.
CHAD MENDES	Announced: July 20.	Substance: GHRP-6.	Two years and loss of results.
RICARDO ABREU	Announced: July 29.	Two years and loss of results.
NATE DIAZ	Announced: October 6.	Substance: Cannabinoids.	Public warning.
ABDUL-KERIM EDILOV	Announced: October 21.	Substance: Meldonium.	Fifteen months and loss of results.
JON JONES	Announced: November 7.	One year.
GEORGE SULLIVAN	Announced: November 8.	Use of IGF-1.	One year.
LYOTO MACHIDA	Announced: November 16.	Substance: 7-keto-DHEA.	Eighteen months.
CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA	Announced: December 21.	Seventeen months.
BROCK LESNAR	Announced: January 4.	Substance: Clomiphene.	One year.
LUIS FELIPE OLIVIERI	Announced: January 25.	Substance: Methyltestosterone.	Two years.
TOM LAWLOR	Announced: February 24.	Substance: Ostarine.	Two years.
VISCARDI ANDRADE	Announced: March 21.	Substance: Stanozolol and metabolites.	Two years.
MATHEUS NICOLAU	Announced: March 29.	Substance: Anastrozole.	One year.
LYMAN GOOD	Announced: April 3.	Substance: 1-androstenedione and metabolite.	Six months.
JUSTIN LEDET	Announced: April 5.	Four months.
FRANK MIR	Announced: April 21.	Substance: Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone.	Two years.
JESSICA PENNE	Announced: January 5.	Substance: DHEA.	Eighteen months.
FRANCISCO RIVERA	Announced: January 19.	Substance: Clenbuterol.	Four years.
JAMES MULHERON	Announced: January 30.	Substance: Clomiphene.	One year.
CARLS JOHN DE TOMAS	Announced: February 5.	Substance: Furosemide.	One year.
JIM WALLHEAD	Announced: February 6.	Substance: Ostarine.	Nine months.
ZUBAIRA TUKHUGOV AND RUSLAN MAGOMEDOV	Announced: February 15.	Substance: Ostarine.	Two years each.
AZUNNA ANYANWU	Announced: March 2.	Substance: Furosemide.	One year.
CYNTHIA CALVILLO	Announced: March 7.	Substance: Cannabinoids.	Six months.
ION CUTELABA	Announced: March 8.	Blood transfusion.	Six months.
AMANDA LEMOS	Announced: March 28.	Substance: Stanozolol.	Two years.
JOSH BARNETT	Announced: March 23.	Substance: Ostarine.	Public warning after an arbitrator accepted the contaminated-supplement explanation.
BEN ROTHWELL	Announced: April 6.	Substance: Testosterone.	Two years.
NICK DIAZ	Announced: April 9.	Three whereabouts failures.	One year.
ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA, JUNIOR DOS SANTOS AND MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA	Announced: April 23.	Six months each after supplement investigations.
MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK	Announced: June 12.	Substance: Clomiphene.	One year.
ANDERSON SILVA	Announced: July 18.	One year after the case was linked to a contaminated supplement.
JON JONES	Announced: September 19.	Substance: Chlorine-substituted anabolic steroid metabolite.	Fifteen months and loss of results.
BRADLEY SCOTT	Announced: October 16.	Substance: Cocaine.	Two years, tolled due to retirement.
POLO REYES	Announced: October 29.	Substance: Ostarine.	Six months.
BHARAT VIJAY KANDARE	Announced: December 17.	Two years.
STEFAN SEKULIC	Announced: December 18.	Two years.
JENNIFER MAIA	Announced: January 15.	Six months.
JAKE COLLIER	Announced: February 19.	Substance: Higenamine.	Ten months.
KHALID MURTAZALIEV	Announced: February 22.	Substance: Drostanolone.	Two years.
RUSLAN MAGOMEDOV	Announced: April 1.	Lifetime suspension for second and third violations.
AZAMAT MURZAKANOV	Announced: April 8.	Substance: Boldenone.	Two years.
TJ DILLASHAW	Announced: April 9.	Substance: Recombinant human EPO.	Two years.
MAIRBEK TAISUMOV	Announced: April 11.	Substance: Stanozolol.	Six months.
WALT HARRIS	Announced: April 22.	Substance: LGD-4033.	Four months.
NICCO MONTANO, SEAN O’MALLEY, MARVIN VETTORI AND AUGUSTO MENDES	Announced: April 23.	Substance: Trace ostarine.	Six months each after findings consistent with supplement contamination.
AMANDA RIBAS	Substance: Ostarine.	Original two-year term reduced after further evidence.
ALEX GORGEES	Announced: May 31.	Sixteen months.
YAOZONG HU	Announced: June 14.	Substance: Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione.	Ten months.
IVAN SHTYRKOV	Announced: July 9.	Substance: Boldenone.	Two years.
ALEN AMEDOVSKI	Announced: July 18.	Substance: Cannabinoids.	Six months, with three months deferred.
ROMAN DOLIDZE	Announced: August 23.	One year.
CB DOLLAWAY	Announced: August 26.	Two years.
THIBAULT GOUTI	Announced: August 27.	Six months.
DMITRY SMOLYAKOV	Announced: September 10.	Two years, tolled due to retirement.
SARAH FROTA	Announced: September 17.	Substance: Stanozolol.	Two years.
DAVID BRANCH	Announced: September 18.	Substance: Ipamorelin.	Two years.
MELISSA GATTO	Announced: October 17.	Substance: Furosemide.	One year.
JOHN ALLAN ARTE	Announced: October 18.	Substance: Tamoxifen.	One year.
GIACOMO FREDERICO SALVADOR DE LEMOS	Announced: October 24.	Substance: Drostanolone.	Two years.
ISTELA NUNES	Announced: October 25.	Substance: Stanozolol.	Two years.
PRISCILA CACHOEIRA	Announced: December 18.	Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.	Four months.
KHALID TAHA	Announced: December 23.	Substance: Furosemide.	One year.
DEQUAN TOWNSEND	Announced: January 8.	Six months.
SEAN O’MALLEY	Announced: January 9.	Substance: Ostarine.	Six months.
FABRICIO WERDUM	Substance: Trenbolone.	Two years, later reduced.
OVINCE SAINT PREUX	Announced: January 31.	Three months.
DIEGO SANCHEZ	Announced: January 31.	Three months.
MICHEL PRAZERES	Announced: February 11.	Substance: Boldenone.	Two years.
ISABELA DE PADUA	Announced: February 27.	Substance: 19-norandrosterone.	Two years.
JESSICA PENNE	Announced: February 28.	Substance: Stanozolol.	Twenty months.
LUCAS PENCHEL	Announced: March 23.	Complicity.	Two years.
KELVIN GASTELUM	Announced: May 11.	Substance: Cannabinoids.	Nine months, with five months deferred.
RACHAEL OSTOVICH	Announced: June 18.	One year.
BRUNO ARRUDA DA SILVA	Announced: June 22.	Substance: Boldenone.	Two years.
GILBERT MELENDEZ	Announced: July 27.	Substance: GHRP-6.	Two years.
VINCE MURDOCK	Substance: GW1516.	Twenty months after reduction.
OLEKSANDR DOSKALCHUK	Announced: September 2.	Substance: Mesterolone.	Fourteen months.
JORGE GONZALEZ VILLA	Announced: September 11.	Two years.
LARA PROCOPIO	Announced: September 21.	Substance: Ostarine.	Six months.
CHASE SHERMAN	Announced: October 20.	Substance: Anastrozole.	Nine months.
JESSE RONSON	Announced: November 18.	Substance: Metandienone.	Twenty months.
RAPHAEL PESSOA	Announced: November 23.	Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.	One year; a later case added possession, use and sample-evasion violations.
YAIR RODRIGUEZ	Announced: December 3.	Three whereabouts failures.	Six months.
MARC-ANDRE BARRIAULT	Announced: December 4.	Substance: Ostarine.	Six months.
CHI LEWIS-PARRY	Announced: December 4.	Four years.
VINICIUS MOREIRA	Announced: January 15.	Substance: Anastrozole.	Public warning.
EDUARDA NEVES SANTANNA	Announced: January 15.	Substance: LGD-4033.	One year.
ANDRE EWELL	Announced: January 19.	Substance: Ostarine.	Public warning.
RAQUEL PENNINGTON	Announced: January 28.	Six months.
ABU AZAITAR	Announced: February 1.	Substance: Tamoxifen.	Seven months.
RAPHAEL PESSOA	Announced: May 3.	Two years.
OSKAR PIECHOTA	Announced: May 5.	Substance: GHRP-2.	Twenty-two months.
ERIK KOCH	Announced: June 16.	Substance: Stanozolol.	Eighteen months.
JUANCAMILO RONDEROS	Announced: July 29.	Substance: Cocaine.	One month.
LILIYA SHAKIROVA	Announced: August 30.	Substance: Meldonium.	Two years.
ROGERIO BONTORIN	Announced: September 29.	Substance: Hydrochlorothiazide.	Three months.
GERALDO DE FREITAS	Announced: October 13.	Substance: An androgenic anabolic steroid.	Two years.
RYAN BENOIT	Announced: November 8.	Substance: Modafinil.	Ten months.
MICHEL PRAZERES	Announced: December 23.	Four years as a repeat offender.
ZVIAD LAZISHVILI	Announced: February 23.	Substance: Clomiphene.	Ten months.
ERIN BLANCHFIELD	Announced: May 13.	Substance: Spironolactone.	Public warning.
ASHLEE EVANS-SMITH	Announced: May 16.	Substance: DHEA.	Fourteen months.
MILES JOHNS	Announced: July 21.	Substance: Adderall.	Public warning.
ELIZEU ZALESKI DOS SANTOS	Announced: September 22.	Substance: Ostarine.	One year.
BOBBY GREEN	Announced: October 7.	Substance: DHEA.	Six months.
HAMDY ABDELWAHAB	Announced: February 3.	Two years.
CARLOS DO CARMO MOTA	Announced: February 21.	Substance: Meldonium.	Two years.
JOSE DE SOUZA	Announced: June 1.	Two years.
BRAXTON SMITH	Announced: June 27.	Substance: Testosterone.	Two years.
CORTNEY CASEY	Announced: September 14.	Substance: BPC-157.	Four months.
OVINCE SAINT PREUX	Announced: September 18.	Substance: 3α-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-17-one.	Six months for a second violation.
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ	Announced: December 14.	Three months.
WALT HARRIS	Announced: March 20, 2024.	Drostanolone and metabolites, exogenous testosterone and anastrozole across samples collected in June, July and August 2023.	Four years for two violations.
KHUSEIN ASKHABOV	Announced: March 25, 2024.	Methandienone, also known as Dianabol, from a February 6 sample.	Twenty-four months.
KHALIL ROUNTREE	Announced: May 22, 2024.	DHEA metabolites after he self-reported accidental use of a supplement containing DHEA.	Two months.
IRINA ALEKSEEVA	Announced: July 19, 2024.	Exogenous testosterone in a June 21, 2023 sample originally collected by USADA.	Twelve months.
HAMDY ABDELWAHAB — SECOND VIOLATION	Announced: July 31, 2024.	Values consistent with exogenous testosterone in samples collected in March and May 2024.	Six months, doubled from three months because it was his second UFC Anti-Doping Policy violation.
BRUNO ARRUDA DA SILVA	Announced: August 9, 2024.	A low-level drostanolone metabolite in an April 11 sample.	Six months.
JOILTON LUTTERBACH	Announced: August 12, 2024.	A drostanolone metabolite in a June 8 sample, with CSAD finding that prohibited use before UFC onboarding had not been disclosed.	Twenty-four months.
LUIS PAJUELO-REVILLA	Announced: October 2, 2024.	Exogenous testosterone metabolites, including 19-norandrosterone; he admitted nandrolone use.	Twenty-four months.
AZAMAT MURZAKANOV	Announced: December 30, 2024.	A low level of an LGD-4033 metabolite traced to a contaminated supplement.	One hundred and eighty days.
MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA	Announced: March 6, 2025.	Anastrozole in a January 13 sample.	One year for his second UFC Anti-Doping Policy violation.
DANYLO VOIEVODKIN	Announced: March 20, 2025.	Meldonium in an October 17, 2024 sample.	Twenty-four months.
DOUGLAS SILVA DE ANDRADE	Announced: May 1, 2025.	Furosemide in a February 14 sample; an independently obtained supplement also contained the diuretic.	Six months.
ALVIN HINES	Announced: August 15, 2025.	Drostanolone, testosterone metabolites and a tamoxifen metabolite in multiple samples.	One year after CSAD determined the use predated his UFC signing but had not been disclosed.
MARYNA MOROZ	Announced: September 2, 2025.	Meldonium in June and July samples, treated as one violation.	One year.
RAMAZONBEK TEMIROV	Announced: October 1, 2025.	Trimetazidine in two out-of-competition samples collected in June and July.	Twelve months.
CONOR MCGREGOR	Announced: October 7, 2025.	Three whereabouts failures on June 13, September 19 and September 20, 2024.	Eighteen months, reduced from the standard twenty-four months based on cooperation and case circumstances.
MOHAMMED USMAN	Announced: January 15, 2026.	Testosterone. Usman subsequently admitted using testosterone and BPC-157 while recovering from injury.	Thirty months, combining the standard two-year term with an additional six months for the surrounding conduct.
IASMIN LUCINDO	Announced: January 27, 2026.	Mesterolone in a September 24, 2025 sample.	Nine months after CSAD found evidence against intentional use and considered possible pharmacy-compounding contamination.
CAROLINE FORO ANTUNES	Announced: March 31, 2026.	Furosemide in a January 6 sample; testing linked the result to an uncertified dietary supplement.	Six months.
ALIBI IDIRIS	Announced: March 31, 2026.	Hydrochlorothiazide from an in-competition sample collected February 21 after use of a diuretic during fight week.	Twelve months; the Texas commission retained jurisdiction over the bout result.
BASSIL HAFEZ	Announced: May 27, 2026.	Ipamorelin in a March 20 out-of-competition sample.	Twelve months. CSAD connected the violation to a wellness-clinic product used during injury recovery but found gross negligence.
VOLKAN OEZDEMIR	Announced: July 17, 2026.	EPO in urine and blood samples collected February 16 and March 5.	Sixteen months, reflecting a reduction for extensive cooperation.
KEVIN RANDLEMAN	Submitted a sample after PRIDE 32 that Nevada said lacked normal human hormones. He admitted supplying a fake sample to conceal medications and received a one-year suspension.
DENNIS SIVER	Tested positive for hCG following UFC 168.
WANDERLEI SILVA	Evaded a surprise Nevada test in 2014, producing a long-running regulatory case rather than an analytical positive.
CHAEL SONNEN	Tested positive in 2014 for anastrozole and clomiphene and later for HGH, EPO and hCG, after which he retired. HGH clarification: In 2014, Sonnen faced two separate Nevada testing matters. The first involved anastrozole and clomiphene; a subsequent test identified human growth hormone (HGH), erythropoietin (EPO) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These are distinct from his 2010 elevated-testosterone case. The reported 2014 findings should n
ALI BAGAUTINOV	Tested positive for EPO in connection with UFC 174.
MIRKO CRO COP	Admitted using HGH during injury treatment and received a two-year USADA sanction, although the laboratory analysis did not establish HGH in his samples.
CUNG LE	Was initially accused of an HGH violation after his 2014 fight with Michael Bisping, but the UFC rescinded the suspension because of deficiencies in the testing process. These cases belong in the historical record, but their circumstances differ from a straightforward confirmed analytical steroid positive. From commission-run post-fight tests to year-round USADA oversight and the UFC’s current CSAD program, MMA’s anti-doping landscape has changed