• UFC on FX 6

Palhares and Beltran banned for nine months

ESPN staff
January 11, 2013
Rousimar Palhares lost to Hector Lombard © Getty Images
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The UFC has suspended Rousimar Palhares and Joey Beltran for nine months each after they failed post-fight drug tests at an international UFC on FX 6 event last month.

Palhares, who suffered a first-round knockout loss to Hector Lombard, was flagged for an elevated testosterone level.

Beltran tested positive for the steroid nandrolone. His decision win over Igor Pokrajac will be changed to a no-contest.

The event took place on December 15 in Queensland, Australia. The suspensions are dated retroactively to December 14, the day in which the card aired in the US.

International drug testing is typically conducted by the UFC, when no regulatory body is present. Vice-president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner, a former member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, oversees the process.

Palhares (14-5) holds seven wins in the UFC, but is currently on a two-fight losing streak. The Brazilian middleweight has had several strange occurrences in his career, including a 90-day suspension by the New Jersey State Control Board for failing to release a submission after opponent Tomasz Drwal tapped.

A former heavyweight, Beltran (15-8) dropped to 205lbs this year. The San Diego-based fighter accepted his suspension but stated via Twitter on Thursday he was still searching the cause for the positive test.

"I can say without a shadow of a doubt I did not inject nandrolone into my body," Beltran tweeted. "I am sorry to my family and friends for the shame this brought to any of you."

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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