Rousimar Palhares and Joey Beltran test positive for PEDs at UFC on FX 6

Two fighters have failed their UFC drug tests at the TUF: The Smashes Finale and will face suspensions. Rousimar Palhares and Joey Beltran will be on the shelf for nine months apiece, as Palhares showed up with elevated testosterone and Beltran tested positive for nandrolone. UFC officials released the news late Thursday with a statement from Marc Ratner, the vice president of regulatory affairs:

“The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. Both athletes have agreed to serve a nine-month suspension retroactive to Dec. 14. They must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to compete again.”

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Hector Lombard knocked out Palhares in impressive fashion at the Dec. 14th affair, and while that result will obviously stay in place,  Beltran’s unanimous decision victory over Igor Pokrajac will not. It is important to note that the UFC acted as the regulatory board in this specific situation, as there no athletic board set to commission the testing at the Gold Coast based event.

The suspensions come at a time that adds insult to injury, as Palhares is now on a two fight-losing streak, having been knocked out by both Alan Belcher and then Lombard. He will go back to the drawing board with some time to think. Beltran, on the other hand, has had his first UFC win in four bouts erased, and his future with the promotion remains in question as of right now.

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Once again, PEDs have reared their ugly head upon MMA, With so many fighters proclaiming outlandishly high numbers of fighters using the drugs, it may be beginning to become a matter of being caught or not. Regardless, Palhares and Beltran got caught and are set to pay the price.