Palhares

By FCF Staff

Just hours removed from the news that the UFC has suspended Rousimar Palhares for allegedly testing positive for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone level, following a KO loss to Hector Lombard on December 15^th, the middleweight is denying that he used any banned substance.

According to a report from MMA Junkie, Palhares has released a statement which says he has a “regimented” diet, and that he “would not use anything that could harm my body or my performance inside the octagon.”

Palhares furthered that “I never had the intention to cheat”, before citing the fact that he has undergone numerous drug tests throughout his career.

The 32 year-old added that he and his physician plan on reviewing all of the supplements he used to prepare for the UFC on FX6 bout, in an effort to “know exactly what happened that made the testosterone rate unusual in my body.”

Due to the fact that the December 15^th event took place in Australia, the UFC oversaw the card’s drug testing and announced Thursday that Palhares had been suspended for nine months due to the positive test.

Light-heavyweight Joey Beltran was also suspended for nine months, due to allegedly testing positive for the steroid nandrolone.

Palhares (14-5) is coming off back-to-back losses to the aforementioned Lombard and Alan Belcher, after winning three straight fights.