PFL vet Ramsey Nijem suspended nine months for marijuana

Ramsey Nijem has again run afoul of regulators this year.

On Wednesday, the Nevada Athletic Commission voted unanimously to suspend the PFL and UFC veteran for nine months for a positive post-fight drug test. Nijem came up positive for marijuana, a drug that’s legal in the state for recreational use but banned at certain levels in competition. He also was fined $3,750 and court fees.

Nijem didn’t contest a complaint levied against him by the commission and was subsequently given the nine-month term, which is on the low end for first-time drug offenders. The suspension comes five months after “The Ultimate Fighter 13” finalist was ruled out of a regular-season bout with the PFL when he refused to put both of his feet on the scale at official weigh-ins.

Nijem joined five other PFL vets on the agenda for an NAC meeting where multiple disciplinary complaints were addressed. The commission extended a hearing into a positive drug test for Season 2 featherweight finalist Daniel Pineda and issued a four-year suspension to heavyweight Alex Nicholson, who tested positive for a trio of steroids; Nicholson and Pineda have denied wrongdoing.

Also suspended for a banned steroid was Luis Rafael Laurentino, who received a 12-month term for stanozolol, a well-known bodybuilding drug. He was also fined $5,000 and court fees.

Season 2 welterweight finalist Glaico Franca, who announced his retirement after a loss to finalist David Michaud, saw his anti-doping case postponed to January and is thus no longer eligible to serve as an alternate in the tournament. In his place goes Chris Curtis, according to Curtis rep Lance Spaude.

Nijem, Nicholson and Laurentino will need to provide three clean drug tests and pay all outstanding fines before being relicensed.