Two members of the UFC roster have been suspended after they tested positive for ostarine.
At Tuesday’s monthly NAC meeting, rising UFC featherweight Kyler Phillips and lightweight Darrius Flowers had disciplinary hearings continued until a future date, which could be as soon as the commission’s April meeting.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which runs the UFC’s drug-testing program, defines ostarine as “the trademarked name for a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is not approved for human use or consumption in the U.S., or in any other country.”
Ostarine is prohibited by the commission and USADA. Almost two dozen fighters have tested positive for ostarine since USADA and the UFC partnered in 2015, including Sean O’Malley and Amanda Ribas. Many of these athletes had suspensions reduced due to confirmations contaminated supplements were to blame.
Lance Spaude of Iridium Sports Agency, which represents both Phillips and Flowers, told MMA Junkie on Tuesday the agency is cooperating with the commission and USADA with the hope that policy change will come.
“We are aware of the current suspensions of Mr. Phillips and Mr. Flowers,” Spaude said in a written statement. “We will refrain from getting into specifics of the cases as they are still pending. Both athletes have been cooperating with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, USADA and the UFC on this matter, and we hope to come to an equitable resolution soon that will allow these athletes to get back to competition.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Flowers are victims of an outdated policy that fails to accurately achieve its intended goals. We want to thank the UFC and USADA in their support in this matter and to applaud director Mullen and the Nevada State Athletic Commission for their willingness to review their current policies and consider changes that are better in line with the goals of fair competition in combat sports.”
Phillips (10-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) tested positive during urinalysis of a sample collected ahead of a scheduled March 11 bout vs. Raphael Assuncao. Flowers (12-5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) tested positive during urinalysis of a sample collected around a scheduled Feb. 25 bout vs. Erick Gonzalez expected to be his promotional debut. Flowers was present in-person for Tuesday’s meeting.
Phillips most recently competed in February 2021 at UFC 271 where he finished Marcelo Rojo with an armbar. He was scheduled to fight Jack Shore in November and Assuncao in March, but both bouts were canceled.
Flowers defeated Amiran Gogoladze on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 to earn a UFC contract. The finish came due to an injury inflicted by a Flowers slam resemblant of a pro-wrestling tombstone piledriver.
Additionally, pro MMA fighter Adriano Capitulino (9-5) was handed a nine-month suspension with fines totaling $476 due to a positive drug test for tamoxifen. The positive test stemmed from a unanimous decision loss Nov. 20 vs. “TUF” alumnus Ryder Newman at Tuff-N-Uff 130.
