Ruslan Magomedov, Zubaira Tukhugov accept two-year sanctions for USADA violations

UFC fighters Ruslan Magomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov have resolved their cases with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

On Thursday, the USADA announced that Magomedov and Tukhugov have accepted two-year suspensions after ostarine was discovered in their out-of-competition drug test samples taken on Sept. 7, 2016. Ostarine is a “non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents” and is prohibited year-round.

The suspensions were first reported by Nolan King.

Tukhugov also had a second sample test positive for ostarine on Oct. 29, 2016, but it was collected before notification of the first positive test and is being treated by the USADA as a single violation.

According to the USADA release, Magomedov and Tukhugov initially put forth a contaminated supplements defense, which the organization could not confirm. Their cases were then consolidated and brought before a neutral arbitrator, who also did not find the contaminated supplements defense convincing, and after two days of testimony the fighters agreed to accept two-year suspensions as well as to pay a total contribution of $10,000 that will go towards the cost of the arbitration proceedings.

The period of ineligibility for both fighters began on Sept. 26, 2016 and they will be eligible to compete again on that same date in 2018.

Magomedov last fought at UFC 192 on Oct. 3, 2015, where he defeated Shawn Jordan by unanimous decision in a heavyweight bout. The 31-year-old Dargin is 3-0 in the UFC and 14-1 overall.

Tukhugov, a 27-year-old featherweight from Chechnya, is 3-1 in the UFC having most recently fought at UFC 198 on May 14, 2016. There, Tukhugov lost a split decision to Renato Moicano. He holds a professional record of 18-4.