Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov has been suspended 6 months by the California State Athletic Commission following a failed drug test.
News of the sanction was first reported by Cole Shelton.
Nurmagomedov (17-0) failed drug test follows his victory over Brent Primus at Bellator 300. That win now turns into a No Contest and Primus will advance in the tournament. It’s assumed that he will also be stripped of the lightweight title although Bellator has yet to release a formal statement on that.
Primus will face the winner of Patricky Pitbull and Alexandr Shabily which will take place at Bellator 301 in Chicago on Nov. 17.
CSAC executive director Andy Foster told MMA Fighting that Nurmagomedov has been suspended 6 months for the failed test. He has also been fined $50,000. The interesting part of the failed test is that, according to Foster, the substance was a prescription drug. He declined to disclose what it was for.
No word on whether Nurmagomedov has accepted the suspension or if he will appeal as of this posting.
Nurmagomedov is younger brother of Umar Nurmagomedov and cousin of UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
This comes as speculation continues over the future of Bellator. Rumors have flown around for months of a possible sale to the Professional Fighters League, but nothing has been finalized.
