Rousimar Palhares has spoken for the first time on his failed drug test result following his fight against Hector Lombard in December.
The Brazilian has denied he took any banned substances knowingly, but has accepted his nine-month suspension nonetheless.
In a statement sent to MMA Junkie, Palhares said:
I’ve always been extremely regimented with my diet and would not use anything that could harm my body or my performance inside the octagon… And it wasn‘t different this time. I never had the intention to cheat. I’ve got almost 30 fights in my career, most of them in the UFC. I have been subjected to several surprise tests, and there was never anything wrong. Besides, I knew that I would be tested after the fight in Australia because it is standard in the UFC. I have a clear conscience, but accepted the punishment. The rules are there for everyone and must be followed.
Palhares says that he will consult with his doctor and go through all the food and supplements he took in the run-up to the fight to see what went wrong.
The Brazilian fought Lombard at UFC on FX 6 in Australia, where he lost the fight by first-round knockout. After the fight he tested for an elevated testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, which is a sign of steroid use.
In the average male, this ratio is usually 1:1. Some sports bodies allow up to 4:1. However, Palhares’ ratio was 9:1.
Palhares wasn’t the only fighter to fail a drug test on the night. Light heavyweight Joey Beltran, who beat Igor Pokrajac by decision, tested positive for Nandrolone after the fight. He also now faces a nine-month suspension.
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