NSAC suspends UFC's Robert Drysdale and WSOF's Bryson Gutches

The Nevada State Athletic Commission today suspended UFC light heavyweight Robert Drysdale for one year and fined him 33 percent of the purse he earned at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale following a failed post-fight drug test.

Drysdale’s first-round submission win over Keith Barish was also overturned to a no-contest, and the fighter was ordered to pass a drug test prior to being relicensed, the commission ruled in a unanimous vote at a hearing in Las Vegas.

A post-fight drug test at the July 6 event revealed Drysdale (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) had a 12:1 testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio, which is well above the 6:1 limit accepted by the commission. The fighter previously was given a temporary suspension pending a formal hearing.

Drysdale appeared before the commission today and explained that he believed he had previously obtained a therapeutic-use exemption to use testosterone-replacement therapy, which he started in 2013.

The decorated jiu-jitsu player turned MMA fighter added that he had been feeling run down prior to being booked to fight Berish and “took the remainder of my medication.” He said that once he heard he had a fight, he stopped his TRT treatment, and yet admitted that he did not disclose his TRT use on pre-fight medical paperwork or during a pre-bout physical.

The commission was unmoved by Drysdale’s testimony and pointed to the fact that TRT was banned in February.

“We’ve given the industry adequate time to adjust to our policy on exemptions,” NSAC commissioner Raymond “Skip” Avansino said.

Drysdale’s fine totaled $5,280, or 33 percent of the $16,000 he received as part of his show and win money.

The failed drug test in June was Drysdale’s second misstep with the NSAC. He was scratched from a UFC 167 fight with Cody Donovan when an out-of-competition drug test revealed he had a T/E ratio of 19.4:1.

Paperwork filed by Drysdale indicated that he first tried to obtain a TUE for TRT less than one month prior to his scheduled octagon debut at UFC 163, which took place in August 2013. A letter from a Las Vegas-based anti-aging clinic, TrimBody M.D., stated Drysdale was taking weekly testosterone injections to treat hypogonadism.

Also at today’s hearing, WSOF lightweight Bryson Gutches (3-0) was temporarily suspended following a formal hearing for his failed post-fight drug test at WSOF 12, where he submitted Soslan Abanokov in the second round. The post-fight drug test revealed the presence of furosemide, a banned diuretic.

Gutches previously admitted his use of the drug in a letter to the NSAC, which MMAjunkie obtained.

For more on the TUF 19 Finale and WSOF 12, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Robert Drysdale)