Four UFC fighters have received six month suspensions from United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Sean O’Malley, Nicco Montano, Marvin Vettori and Augusto Mendes, all failed random, out-of-competition drug tests for the banned substance ostarine.

All four fighters had trace amounts of ostarine in their systems when tested last year, which USADA says is consistent with supplement contamination. USADA have said that they found “no evidence of intentional use” in any of the four cases.

As a result, all four fighters have received reduced suspensions of six months. USADA stated in a press release:

“The trace amounts of ostarine found in each of the athlete’s samples was made possible by sensitive laboratory detection capabilities. However, as detection windows increase and the potential time between ingestion and detection lengthens, it has become more difficult for athletes to identify a contaminated product that may be the source of their positive test. As a consequence, the investigation period in ostarine cases is frequently relatively long, as has been the case in each of the cases announced today.”

USADA also gave more information on ostarine:

“Ostarine, also known as MK-2866 and Enobosarm, is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is illegally sold worldwide as a performance-enhancing substance. Ostarine is not currently available as a prescription medication in any country, and its unauthorized use may carry serious side effects. Nonetheless, ostarine has commonly been found as a declared and undeclared ingredient in many dietary supplements.”

You can read the full USADA statement here.

O’Malley failed two out-of-competition tests for ostarine on September 5th and December 8th, although USADA have treated it as a single first violation because they concluded that the trace amounts found in both tests were consistent with ingestion prior to September 5th. His six-month suspension began on September 19th, the date he was provisionally suspended, which means the 24 year old is already cleared to return to action.

The former UFC women’s flyweight champion Montano, tested positive for ostarine in an out-of-competition sample collected on October 25th. The 30 year old was provisionally suspended on November 15th. Her six month suspension is retroactive to that date. As a result, she will be eligible to return to the UFC on May 15th.

Montano hasn’t fought since she won the 125lbs title in December 2017. She was stripped of the belt last September after she failed to make weight, ahead of her title fight against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 228.

Vettori’s failed drug test came on on August 24th. His six month suspension began on that date. So the 30 year old can fight immediately.

Mendes failed his test on March 7th of 2018. Although his six month suspension began on March 20th, the 36 year old was released from the UFC in June of last year.

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