UFC: Khalid Taha Banned One Year Following In-Competition Drug Test Failure

UFC 236 Khalid Taha Boston Salmon
Takafumi Otsuka def. Khalid Taha Credit: RIZIN FF

Khalid Taha has been banished a year by USADA, following a positive drug test at UFC 243 back in October.

UFC bantamweight Khalid Taha is the latest fighter hit with a suspension by USADA. On Monday, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, who oversee the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy, announced in a press release that Germany’s Taha had accepted a one year suspension after testing positive for Furosemide at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia earlier this year.

Furosemide falls under the class of diuretics and masking agents, making it prohibited at all times under the promotion’s anti-doping rules. Notably, Taha missed weight for the bout, clocking in at 137lbs.

Taha, 27, will have his suspension backdated to October 6, 2019, the day his positive urine sample was collected. In regards to his win, over Bruno Gustavo da Silva via third-round submission, “any decision concerning competition results is handled by the relevant commissions and UFC,” Monday’s press release noted.

Khalid Taha (14-2) is 2-1 in the UFC to date. He entered the promotion in 2018, losing to Nad Narimani before picking up wins over Boston Salmon and Gustavo da Silva. ‘The Warrior’ previously competed for Brave and Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation. In 2017, he made it through the opening round of RIZIN’s bantamweight grand prix, before being bounced from the tournament by Takafumi Otsuka in the quarterfinal round.