UFC middleweight Kevin Casey and light heavyweight Robert Drysdale failed drug tests following UFC 175 and The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale, MMAjunkie learned today.
The Nevada attorney general’s office today confirmed that Casey (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who knocked out Bubba Bush in 61 seconds at UFC 175, tested positive for drostanolone, a steroid. Drysdale (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who submitted Keith Berish at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale, was flagged for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 12-to-1, according to Deputy Attorney General Christopher Eccles.
UFC 175 and The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale took place on successive days, July 5 and July 6, both at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center, as part of the UFC’s International Fight Week.
It’s the first positive test for Casey, while Drysdale fails a second time after the NSAC declined to medically clear him for a fight at UFC 167 due to an elevated T/E ratio of 19.4-1, which is over three times the allowed ratio of 6-to-1. Following his win over Berish, he denied wrongdoing in the matter and attributed his commission troubles to a “bureaucratic issue.”
Both fighters will receive temporary suspensions pending a formal hearing on the failures. They face formal suspension, fines and the overturning of their respective wins.
There were no additional positive tests arising from UFC 175 or the The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale, according to the attorney general’s office. Enhanced testing – blood and urine – was utilized for the July 5 event, the office said, while competitors from the July 6 show were tested via urine.
Of course, two scheduled fighters were scratched prior to UFC 175. Chael Sonnen was the subject of enhanced testing and was flagged for five banned substances, which scratched him from a scheduled fight with Vitor Belfort in the co-headliner. He subsequently retired and was this past week suspended for two years, among other punishments. Sonnen’s originally scheduled opponent, Wanderlei Silva, was found to have evaded a random drug test and was scratched from the card. He later admitted to the NSAC that he was taking banned diuretics in order to recover from a wrist injury.
Casey, a veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter 17,” made his professional octagon debut at show’s season finale and lost via second-round TKO to Josh Samman. He was subsequently released by the UFC and went back to the regional circuit, where he won three straight fights before an offer to return.
Drysdale, a decorated jiu-jitsu competitor, improved his unbeaten streak to 7 pro fights. He was scheduled to make his UFC debut this past August at UFC 163, but a reported staph infection forced him to withdraw. He has finished all of his fights via first-round submission.
For complete coverage of UFC 175 and The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
(Pictured: Robert Drysdale)
