The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has extended the temporary suspension of two UFC stars, Kyler Phillips and Darrius Flowers, over PED useallegations.
During the NSAC’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Joel Becker revealed that both had tested positive for ostarine, an anabolic agent banned by the WADA.
Darrius Flowers was scheduled to face Erick Gonzalez in a lightweight bout at UFC Vegas 70, but was pulled in mid-February for unknown reasons. However, it has now been confirmed that Flowers had submitted to a urinalysis which showed the presence of ostarine.
The NSAC temporarily suspended his license on February 27th, 2023, and the suspension will now be continued until the formal disciplinary action is resolved.
Kyler Phillips was set to face Raphael Assuncao on the UFC Vegas 71 card in March, but was removed from the card for undisclosed reasons in February.
Similarly, Phillips had submitted to a urinalysis which also showed the presence of ostarine. The NSAC temporarily suspended his license on March 1st, 2023, and this suspension will also be continued until the disciplinary action is resolved.
The NSAC has informed both stars of the disciplinary complaints against them, and a final ruling on both cases is expected to be made in the coming months. It is important to note that neither Phillips nor Flowers have made any public statements about their suspensions at this time.
What is Ostarine? How does it work?
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). Ostarine, also known as Enobosarm, GTx-024, and MK-2866,exhibits a significant amount of anabolic activity in the body relative to androgenic activity.
By exhibiting a favorable selectivity for stimulating increases in muscle tissue and strength relative to androgenic activity in affected tissues, Ostarine has the potential advantage that it could be used at relatively low doses, is orally bioavailable, and could potentially circumvent some of the negative effects that stem from traditionally used anabolic agents.
Ostarine increases muscle mass and strength, tendon strength, ligament health, bone density and encourages collagen turnover.
Ostarine was on the FDA’s fast track development program to become an approved treatment of muscle wasting in patients with cancer but failed in phase 3. Ostarine has been shown to be effective in dosages ranging from 10mg-25mg per day, with a maximum of 50mg per day, but it can cause some side effects, such as testosterone suppression and acne breakouts.
Which UFC stars tested positive for ostarine?
The most prominent names that have tested positive for Ostarine are Sean O’Malley, Rachel Ostovich, Diego Sanchez, Ovince Saint Preux, Marvin Vettori and Zubaira Tukhugov. They’re not the only ones. There’s been over 20 cases of ostarine induced suspensions.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos was suspended for a year after testing positive for Ostarine in September of 2022.
Barriault has been handed a nine-month suspension after he tested positive for ostarine in 2020.
Fritzen Procopio, 24, tested positive for ostarine as the result of a urine sample collected out-of-competition on February 17, 2020
Rachael Ostovich-Berdon received a year of suspension for Ostarine in June of 2020.
Ovince Saint Preux has accepted a three-month sanction from USADA after testing positive for Ostarine in 2020.
Diego Sanchez tested postive for Ostarine in January of 2020.
Sean O’Malley tested positive for ostarine as the result of out-of-competition urine samples he provided on August 6, 2019 and August 12, 2019.
Thibault Gouti has accepted a six-month sanction for Ostarine in 2019.
Amanda Ribas tested positive for Ostarine and was suspended for 2 years. That sanction had since been reduced.
Nicco MOntano received a 6 month suspension for ostarine in 2019.
Marvin Vettori tested positive for ostarine in 2019 and received a 6 month suspension.
Augusto Tanquinho Mendes tested positive for Ostarine at the same time and received a 6 month suspension.
Polo Reyes received a 6 month suspension for Ostarine in 2018.
Josh Barnett received a public reprimand for Ostarine in 2018.
Zubaira Tukhugov received a 2 year suspension for Ostarine in 2018.
Ruslan Magomedov received a 2 year suspension for Ostarine in 2018.
Jim wallhead received a 9 month suspension for Ostarine in 2018.
UFC bantamweight Guido Cannetti accepted a 10-month USADA suspension after testing positive for ostarine in 2018.
Tom lawlor received a 2 year suspension for Ostarine in 2017.
FC athlete Carlos Diego Ferreira, of Amazonas, Brazil, has accepted a 17-month sanction for ostarine in 2016.
Tim Means tested positive for ostarine in 2016 and received a 6 months suspension.