NAC Suspends Three UFC Fighters For Positive Drug Tests

Three UFC fighters have been sidelined.

The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) has suspended heavyweights Chris Barnett and Rodrigo Nascimento, and featherweight Daniel Pineda after the trio tested positive for banned drugs.

Barnett’s samples were collected after his UFC Vegas 23 loss to Ben Rothwell. He lost via submission in the second round. The fighter was found to have consumed marijuana.

The drug has now been allowed for consumption, but was banned at the time the samples were taken. The Beastboy has been fined $1,036.08 and his suspensions will last until October 26, 2021.

Nascimento had tested positive for ritalinic acid, a metabolite of psychostimulant drugs methylphenidate and ethylphenidate. His samples were taken after a July 17 fight against Alan Baudot where Nascimento won via second-round TKO. However, his win has now been declared “no contest” after the drugs samples came back positive.

Pineda was found to have amphetamine in his urine sample. As a result, the NAC has banned him until March 26, 2022. The featherweight star has been fined a staggering $2,554.38.

His samples were taken after his gruesome showdown against Andre Fili that was ruled a “no contest.” Pineda was unable to continue the fight after Fili had poked him in the eyes.

Pineda is not facing a drug ban for the first time.

During his time at the PFL in 2019, the featherweight was suspended for six months after he was found to have an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio.