Hector Lombard handed one year suspension and fined over failed test

After flunking his fight night drug test at UFC 182, Hector Lombard was today in front of the always entertaining Nevada State Athletic Commission to explain his case and take his punishment.

After much deliberation and debate, the NSAC handed down a suspension of one year and a fine of his $53,000 win bonus plus 1/3 of his fight purse while the bout will be overturned to no contest.

Cuban native Lombard was found with desoxymethyltestosterone in his system (a well known anabolic steroid) but today refused to admit having knowingly taken any illegal substance. Lombard claimed he had the flu on fight week and the medication which he was given must have been the reason for his failure. Despite the refusal to admit guilt, Lombard did apologise for having the substance in his system.

Lombard is a former Bellator middleweight champion who has had an up-and-down UFC career to date. At UFC 182 on January 3rd he did elevate himself towards a title shot, though, with a win over Josh Burkman. Although that unanimous decision victory is now a no-contest.

Lombard was due to fight fellow welterweight contender Rory MacDonald at UFC 186 in the co-main event but that is now, obviously, cancelled.