Anderson Silva, Nick Diaz and Hector Lombard all handed temporary suspensions

Anderson Silva, Nick Diaz and Hector Lombard have all been slapped with temporary suspensions by the Nevada State Athletic Commission following their recent drug test failures.

The move was somewhat expected as it is typical of the NSAC to deliver provisional suspensions to fighters who fail drug tests, in order to set up a further formal hearing. Silva (34-6) tested positive for anabolic steroids Drostanolone and Androstane in an out-of-competition drug test on January 9 before also testing positive for Drostanolone, as well as sleeping medication Oxazepam and anti-anxiety medication Temazepam in a post-fight drug test on January 31. The latter test came after Silva's unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 183 but, interestingly, Silva provided a clean sample in a drug test on January 19, in between both failed tests. Meanwhile a sample provided by Diaz (26-10, 1NC) was found to have traces of marijuana metabolites in his post-fight drug test which is not his first offence of that type. Only last week, a scheduled bout between Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard was scrapped from UFC 186 after Lombard (35-4-1, 1NC) tested positive for the anabolic steroid Desoxymethyltestosterone in a post-fight drug test after his latest win over Josh Burkman in January. The UFC are planning a press conference tomorrow to address the worsening issue of PEDs in their promotion but all three fighters will face a formal hearing in the coming weeks with the athletic commission where they will likely be met with a more concrete suspension, heavy fines and their bouts being overturned to no-contests.