UFC bantamweight Sean O'Malley has accepted a reduced, retroactive six-month suspension, after testing positive for a prohibited substance in August.
The suspension stems from two failed out-of-competition urine samples collected on Aug. 6 and Aug. 12, respectively. With the suspension backdated until Aug. 6 and thus ending Feb. 6, O’Malley’s March 7 fight at UFC 248 on March 7 will not be impacted by the sanction.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees the UFC’s drug-testing program, announced the news in a press release Thursday.
Despite O’Malley (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) failing on multiple dates, USADA treated them “as a single violation because the estimated concentration of ostarine in the urine samples was consistent with ingestion prior to August 29, 2019, the date O’Malley received notification of his second violation.”
According to USADA, O’Malley kept a food log and increased his level of care with supplements. USADA found no signs of intentional use, so O’Malley’s positive tests were resolved with a six-month eligibility time period.
“Ostarine, also known as MK-2866 and Enobosarm, is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is illegally sold worldwide as a performance-enhancing substance,” the USADA release reads. “Ostarine is not currently available as a prescription medication in any country, and its unauthorized use may carry serious side effects. Nonetheless, ostarine has commonly been found as a declared and undeclared ingredient in many dietary supplements.”
O’Malley’s struggles with positive ostarine tests have persisted since mid-2018. The bantamweight up-and-comer first tested positive prior to an October 2018 fight.
In November 2018, O’Malley was suspended six months retroactive to the test by the NSAC, making him eligible to return in Mach 2019. USADA determined the culprit to be a dietary supplement.
In April 2019, USADA issued a statement linking four fighters who tested positive for ostarine to tainted supplements. O’Malley was among them.
Booked to fight Marlon Vera at UFC 239 in July, O’Malley was pulled after ostarine traces showed up in a USADA test once again.
O’Malley is currently scheduled to take on Jose Quinonez (8-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at UFC 248 in Las Vegas. The bout was supposed to take place Feb. 8 at UFC 247 in Houston. On Jan. 3, MMA Junkie learned the bout had been pushed back until March.
UFC 248 takes place March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims expected for ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
