Brazilian lightweight Thiago Tavares flunked a drug test at the recent UFC on FX 7 event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and will be suspended for nine months.
According to the promotion, Tavares tested positive for Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid that was also involved in the positive drug test of Stephan Bonnar in Brazil last October. Tavares will have to take and pass a drug test at the completion of his suspension in order to be eligible to compete under the promotion’s banner.
Tavares’ rep declined comment to MMA Fighting, saying the fighter planned to personally address the matter.
Tavares (17-5-1) has been in the UFC for nearly six years, debuting in the spring of 2007. Since then he’s had an uneven career, going 7-5-1 in 13 bouts, with his biggest wins coming over Sam Stout and Spencer Fisher.
At UFC on FX 7, he was handily beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov, losing by knockout in just 1:55.
In the same statement, the UFC confirmed that Vitor Belfort — who was rumored to have failed his UFC on FX 7 test — is on a medically approved testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program after being diagnosed with hypogonadism.
The 35-year-old Belfort knocked out Michael Bisping in the second round of night’s headliner.
Belfort joins other notables including Chael Sonnen, Forrest Griffin and Dan Henderson who have been granted exemptions for the controversial treatment. Until now, he has declined to confirm or deny reports that he was using TRT.
The UFC said Belfort’s test results came back within normal range.
Besides Tavares, all other fighters on the UFC on FX 7 card passed their drug test.