The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Hector Lombard for one year and slapped him with a fine after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid after his UFC 182 victory over Josh Burkman, according to Damon Martin of FoxSports.com.
Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting provided a statement from Lombard in which the 37-year-old welterweight apologized for his actions:
However, during his hearing before the NSAC, Lombard stated that he “never knowingly put a banned substance into my body,” per ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto.
Although the failed test came in January, it wasn’t until today that the NSAC deliberated regarding the cases against both Lombard and Nick Diaz, who failed a drug test after UFC 183.
Lombard tested positive for desoxymethyltestosterone, and as a result, lost out on a potential bout with Rory MacDonald that would’ve been set for UFC 186, which is scheduled for April 25.
Given his age, a one-year suspension is a pretty significant punishment for Lombard. Taking a year off is tough even for fighters in their prime, and it becomes even harder for fighters in their late 30s.
Martin added that the ban retroactively goes into effect immediately after Lombard’s no contest with Burkman, so the earliest he could return to the Octagon would be January 2016.
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