USADA suspends Adam Hunter two years for testing positive for five banned substances

UFC newcomer Adam Hunter has been suspended two years by USADA after testing positive for five different banned substances, the UFC's anti-doping partner announced Friday.

Hunter failed an out-of-competition drug test stemming from an Aug. 11 sample for tamoxifen metabolite, boldenone metabolites, methandienone metabolites, drostanolone metabolite, and clenbuterol, per the USADA release. All of them are prohibited at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The test was administered by USADA partner, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

Tamoxifen is an estrogen modulator, boldenone is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid, methandienone and drostanolone are anabolic steroids and clenbuterol is a fat-burning, performance-enhancing drug.

The British Columbia Athletic Commission (BCAC) also retained jurisdiction in the matter because the sample collection was in relation to what would have been Hunter's UFC debut against Ryan Janes at UFC on FOX 21 in Vancouver.

The BCAC and USADA came to the two-year suspension decision jointly, per the release. That means Hunter isn't just suspended by the UFC, he won't be able to fight at all under an Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports jurisdiction in the U.S. and Canada.

Hunter's two-year ban is retroactive to Aug. 26, the day when he was provisionally suspended and pulled from the fight against Janes just a day out of their would-be clash.

"By testing athletes and upholding anti-doping rules, as we've done in this case, the BCAC and USADA are helping to protect athlete safety and maintain the integrity of the sport," BCAC commissioner Wayne Willows said in the release.

Added USADA CEO Travis Tygart: "From day one, the goal of the UFC Anti-Doping Program has been to promote a clean Octagon and allow athletes to compete on a level playing field. Working with partners like the BCAC helps to ensure that goal becomes a reality."

Hunter (7-1) came into the UFC winning seven straight fights, all finishes. The 33-year-old New Brunswick, Canada native last fought under the GOTC banner in June.