It has been reported from MMAFighting.com that Ali Bagautinov has been suspended for one year, after testing positive for Recombinant Human Erythropoitein (EPO). The drug test occurred on June 2nd, which was less than two weeks before his title fight against Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174. This was the same banned substance that was found in Chael Sonnen’s system, amongst three other banned substances.There was speculation about Bagautinov’s future, after it was reported that he was banned from the International Sambo Federation in 2012 for testing positive for >methylhexanemine. While he denied that report, he certainly won’t be able to deny this one. British Columbia athletic commissioner Dave Maedal stated that the results from the drug test on June 2nd weren’t available prior to UFC 174 due to lab processing times. Therefore it took over a month later to conclude the test and that he has failed it.
Bagautinov (13-3) was on the receiving end of a definitive unanimous decision to Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174, where he was dominated for five rounds. MMA Fighting received a comment from Johnson, who simply replied that “talent will beat out drugs every time out, just like it did last month in Vancouver”.
No comment has been made from Bagautinov’s camp yet.
