Michinori Tanaka fails UFC drug test
On Sep. 20, the UFC traveled to Japan and held an event in Saitama. As they often do for international events, the UFC regulated themselves.
As a part of that regulation, they contracted an independent drug testing lab to test fighters on the card for banned substances. On Tuesday, the promotion announced that one fighter, Michinori Tanaka (10-1), tested positive for banned substances, and has been suspended from competition for nine months.
According to a statement from the UFC, Tanaka admitted to taking over the counter allergy medication before his fight against Kyung Ho Kang (13-7) in Japan, which resulted in his testing positive for the banned stimulants ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The 24 year-old will pay a steep price for what he says was an effort to alleviate allergy symptons with over-the-counter medicine.
The bantamweight will not only lose out on fight purses for nine months, but he will also give up his bonus for taking part in that night's Fight of the Night. Read an excerpt from the UFC's statement on the failed drug test, below.
UFC bantamweight Michinori Tanaka tested positive for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine based on a pre-fight urine test administered prior to the event. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are stimulants banned in athletic competition pursuant to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code. Based on such results, UFC officials decided that Tanaka had violated his promotional agreement and the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. Accepting the accuracy of the test result, Tanaka has admitted to taking over-the-counter allergy medication prior to the fight, likely causing the positive result, and acknowledges the illegal substances were in his system. Consequently, Tanaka agreed to a nine-month suspension from unarmed combat competition. He must pass a drug test at the conclusion of his suspension in order to return to competition. Tanaka will also forfeit his Fight of the Night bonus he earned at the event.
Tanaka lost a split decision to Kang, Sep. 20. He will be eligible to compete again for the UFC, nine months from that date.
