Usman Nurmagomedov faces 6-month suspension,$50,000 fine for failed drug test

WEB DESK: Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov has been suspended for six months and fined $50,000 after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive officer Andy Foster confirmed to ESPN about the development. 

Nurmagomedov has been removed from the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix due to the failed drug test. Despite this setback, he will not be stripped of his title, as clarified by his manager, Ali Abdelaziz. The recent tournament victory over Brent Primus at Bellator 300 has been overturned to a no-contest.

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Abdelaziz explained that Nurmagomedov was using a prescription medication, contributing to the positive test. Without this context, the suspension could have been more extensive. Additionally, Abdelaziz noted that Nurmagomedov was unaware that the medication contained a prohibited substance in California, which adheres to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code for its list of banned drugs.