UFC featherweight Brian Ortega has been suspended for nine months after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid on July 26.
California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster confirmed to ESPN that Ortega tested positive for the banned substance drostanolone after his win over Mike de la Torre last month in San Jose. Sherdog.com first reported the failed test.
In addition to the suspension, the CSAC fined Ortega the maximum allowed $2,500 (£1,500) and changed the result of the fight to a no-contest.
Ortega (8-0) has 30 days to appeal the punishment. The fight against Torre was his first appearance in the UFC.
The 23-year-old joins a long list of UFC fighters to fail drug tests in 2014. Also in July, light heavyweight Robert Drysdale and middleweight Kevin Casey were temporarily suspended for failed tests in Las Vegas.
Last week, middleweight Mike King was hit with a nine-month suspension when it was found he had an anabolic steroid in his system during a fight against Cathal Pendred on July 19.
Three-time UFC title contender Chael Sonnen retired from mixed martial arts in June after it was reported he failed back-to-back tests earlier this summer. Flyweight title contender Ali Bagautinov was suspended for a year after failing a test administered by the British Columbia Athletic Commission in early June.
This article originally appeared on ESPN.com
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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