Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov is facing multiple repercussions for a failed drug test prior to his Bellator 300 fight against Brent Primus.
The California State Athletic Commission has suspended Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) for a failed drug test administered on Oct. 6, which indicated the presence of an undisclosed prohibited substance, according to an official document obtained by MMA Junkie. The agreement was signed by CSAC executive officer Andy Foster and Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov said the substance was from a medication prescribed by a physician. However, he failed to request a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) prior to the positive drug test. Nurmagomedov requested a TUE after the fact but was denied by the commission.
“Respondent provided evidence that the prohibited substance was prescribed to him by a physician and maintains that the prohibited substance was prescribed for therapeutic use,” the commission document states.
Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz of Dominance MMA, did not respond to MMA Junkie’s request for comment, although he did provide one to ESPN and said the substance was “nothing enhancing” and “not an anabolic steroid.”
Usman Nurmagomedov's manager @AliAbdelaziz00 has released a statement regarding the drug test:
"Usman was prescribed medication for an illness he had. It’s NOT an anabolic steroid, EPO, HGH, etc. Nothing enhancing. He will rematch Primus and get back in the tournament."
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) November 11, 2023
The substance was not revealed due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) and California’s Confidentiality of Medica Information Act.
As a result of the failed test, Nurmagomedov faces a number of repercussions from the CSAC. His unanimous decision win over Brent Primus in the Bellator 300 main event, a semifinal in the promotion’s grand prix, has been overturned to a no contest. In addition, Nurmagomedov has been suspended for six months as of Nov. 6. He also has been fined $50,000.
Nurmagomedov has also agreed to enroll in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) testing program at his own expense for 12 months. He is required to submit no fewer than three full World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) drug screenings.
If Nurmagomedov tests positive for a prohibited substance in California or any other jurisdiction recognized by the Association of Boxing Commissions, he will face a four-year suspension.
Bellator did not immediately respond to MMA Junkie’s request for comment. However, promotion executive Mike Kogan came to Nurmagomedov’s defense on Instagram.
“It was not doping,” Kogan wrote. “No one is stripping him of any titles. Rematch with (Brent Primus) is the only thing that makes sense.”
Setting up a rematch between Nurmagomedov and Primus could be tricky considering they met in a tournament bout and the fact that Bellator’s future remains uncertain beyond next week’s Bellator 301 event in Chicago. It’s possible the promotion is acquired by or merges with PFL, which has long been talked about.
UPDATE: Hours after the news broke, Nurmagomedov issued a statement on his Instagram account.
