Drysdale suspended one year for failed PED test
Following a failed PED test in July, the NAC has suspended Robert Drysdale for a year, fined him 33% of his purse, and change his win to an NC.
Last year the UFC signed ADCC Worlds and Mundials gold medalist turned undefeated MMA fighter Robert Drysdale. He was scheduled to fight Cody Donovan in his promotional debut at UFC 167 on Nov 16, 2013.
However, out-of-competition drug testing by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) revealed an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio, indicating use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Drysdale’a 19.4-1 T/E ratio, was over three times the NSAC’s then 6-1 limit. It has since been lowered to 4-1. At the time, Drysdale was not been fined or suspended, nor was he refused a license. Instead, he was not been medically cleared to compete due to the failed test.
The UFC gave him another chance.
On July 6 at the TUF 19 Finale Drysdale had his league debut, maintaining his Rousey-like streak of first round submission victories by tapping out Keith Berish with a rear naked choke. However, a post fight PED test revealed a T/E of 12:1, three times the current 4:1 limit. At the time, the fighter was provisionally suspended, pending a hearing.
Today at that hearing the NAC suspended Dysdale for a year, retroactive to the fight date. They also fined the fighter 33% of his $16,000 fight purse ($5,280) and changed his win to a no contest.
Drysdale acknowledged that he had been on Testosterone Replacement Therapy, but said he had stopped two months prior to the fight. He did not disclose the TRT use on his pre-fight medicals.
We’ve given the industry adequate time to adjust to our policy on exemptions, said NSAC commissioner Raymond Skip Avansino.
It is not known if Drysdale will keep his contract with the UFC, but it is hard to imagine that he will, given the current climate around PED use. Drysdale is a tremendous talent; it is a huge loss to the sport to not see how he does against the best fighters. That this happened because he cheated means Robert Drysdale cheated not just his opponent, but also the fans, his employers, and the sport itself.
Also at the hearing, WSOF lightweight Bryson Gutches was temporarily suspended after he tested positive for the banned diuretic furosemide following a fight at August 9, 2014.