NSAC hearing reveals source of Shields 2012 suspension

There are varying state laws governing the release of recreational and performance enhancing drug tests by the athletic commission. When Nevada mistakenly tested Jon Jones out of competition for recreational drugs, they were required by state law to disclose the information, if asked.

At UFC 150 Jake Shields was suspended for six months, he was fined $5,675, and his victory over Ed Herman was changed to a No Contest. However, that fight took place in Colorado, and local Open Records laws in the Centennial State prohibit the AC from revealing the substance in question.

Shields, 36, is scheduled to fight Brian Foster at WSOF 17 on Saturday. Nevada Athletic Commission records require fighters over 35 to appear before the commission. That took place today and Shields was asked why he failed the test.

It turns out the substance was a banned diuretic. Shields said he did not know know much about the diuretic he took, got it from a friend of another fighter, and did not know it was banned.

Obviously it was a mistake, and I served my suspension, said Shields.

I learned from my mistakes. I definitely don’t want to go through what I went through before.

Shields was granted a license to fight, provided he completes his medicals, which lack an MRI and a hep-B test.

Shields also was grilled about the Strikeforce Brawl; he explained what happened, and said there would not be a repeat.

Shields was granted a conditional license pending the completion of his pre-fight medical paperwork, which lacks a clean MRI and hepatitis-B test.

The commission also licensed Anderson Silva, and issued temporary suspension to Ashlee Evans-Smith for a failed UFC 181 drug test, also for diuretics.

The commission also seemed unprepared to deal with the out-of-competition testing for recreation drugs, and proposed the creation of a committee to look into the issue.