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Beltran, Palhares Test Positive, Receive Nine Month Suspensions

By Tayla Holman
Published on: 06:44 PST, Jan 11, 2013

Joey Beltran and Rousimar Palhares have been suspended from the UFC for nine months following their fights in Australia this past month.

Beltran tested positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid, and Palhares tested positive for elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone levels, MMA Junkie reports.

The two fought at UFC on FX 6 on December 15 at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Center in Queensland, Australia. Beltran won his first UFC fight since June 2011 when he defeated Igor Pokrajac by unanimous decision. The decision was overturned and changed to no contest due to his positive test, bringing his record to 14-8-1 MMA, 4-5-1 UFC.

Palhares lost to Hector Lombard by KO, bringing his overall record to 14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC.

Both fighters’ suspensions are dated retroactively to December 14, the date the card aired in the United States.

Both fighters had already been given medical suspensions of up to six months after their respective fights. Palhares received a right foot injury and Beltran suffered a right hand injury. Had they not tested positive, they would have been able to return to the Octagon by June; now they won’t be able to fight again until mid-September.

Chad Mendes had also been medically suspended for six months after his fight against Yaotzin Meza during UFC on FX 6. He received a left foot injury, but may be able to return early if he is cleared by a doctor.

According to ESPN, international drug testing is usually conducted by the UFC when there is no regulatory body present. Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner oversees the drug testing process.

Beltran denied that he injected steroids and said he was trying to figure out what caused the positive result.

[Pictured: Joey Beltran]

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