Lavar Johnson Cut By UFC, Suspended by CSAC Following Failed Drug Test

Sherdog.com verified the heavyweight’s release with UFC executive Marc Ratner on Thursday. Johnson’s post-fight drug test was flagged for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio following his unanimous decision defeat to Brendan Schaub at UFC 157 last month. MMAJunkie.com first reported Johnson’s test results and his UFC release.

The fighter’s sample also failed a carbon isotope test, which was conducted at the WADA lab at UCLA, according to Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, who also verified that Johnson will likely be suspended for nine months. Foster has not yet made that ruling official, however.

Johnson had no answer for Schaub’s continual takedown attack in their UFC 157 clash, which took place Feb. 23 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. “Big” found himself on his back for much of the bout’s 15-minute duration, which resulted in the Californian suffering his second straight defeat.

The 35-year-old exits the UFC with a 2-2 promotional record following a 3-2 run in Strikeforce. Johnson put forth a pair of impressive performances in his first two Octagon efforts, knocking out Joey Beltran and Pat Barry to kick off 2012 before stumbling in a submission defeat to Stefan Struve at UFC 146.