Josh
Quinlan was not cleared to compete against Jason Witt
after testing positive for a trace amount of a steroid metabolite
prior to their welterweight bout at
UFC on ESPN 40.
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The UFC announced the news in a statement prior to Saturday’s
event:
UFC was notified by USADA that a recent urine sample from
Josh
Quinlan indicated the presence of a small amount of the M3
metabolite of dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT). While not a
violation under UFC anti-doping program rules, Nevada State
Athletic Commission has ruled that Quinlan is not cleared to fight.
As a result, his bout against Jason Witt
has been canceled from tonight’s event.
Quinlan vs. Witt will now take place on week later at
UFC on ESPN 41 in San Diego. According to USADA, a fighter can
test positive for up to 100 picograms of the M3 metabolite before
it is determined to be an anti-doping violation. The most famous
instance occurred when former light heavweight champion Jon Jones
tested positive for trace elements of the M3 metabolite ahead of a
title bout against Alexander
Gustafsson at UFC 232, which resulted in USADA updating its
stance on the substance.
Quinlan was previously suspended for nine months by the NSAC after
testing positive for the steroid drostanolone in relation to a
first-round TKO win over Logan Urban
at Dana White’s Contender Series last September. The Legacy
Fighting Alliance veteran is 5-0 in his professional career.
Witt is 2-3 in the Octagon and is coming off a second-round TKO
defeat to Philip Rowe
at UFC Fight Night 200 on Feb. 5.