UFC bantamweight Miles Johns has been suspended until February 2024 and fined $2,300 after testing positive for a banned substance, the M3 metabolite, following his fight on September 23.
So, here’s the thing. UFC bantamweight Miles Johns is in a bit of a pickle. He’s got to sit on the sidelines until February. Why, you ask? Well, he tested positive for a banned substance after his last fight on September 23rd.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The Nevada Athletic Commission made an announcement on Tuesday. They’ve reached an agreement with Johns following his positive test for the M3 metabolite. This metabolite is found in DHCMT, or as it’s commonly known, oral turinabol. It’s an anabolic steroid, by the way.
The consequences? Johns got slapped with a suspension of four and a half months. He can’t compete again until February 6, 2024, or later. And the financial hit? A $2,300 fine, which is 10% of his fight purse ($23,000), plus $157.04 in prosecution fees. Ouch.
Now, this M3 metabolite has been causing a stir recently. Especially after UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones tested positive for the same substance. This led to a long, grueling investigation into the drug and its effects when found in trace amounts in athletes.
Fast forward to the Nevada Athletic Commission’s monthly meeting in November. They adopted new thresholds for several banned substances. These substances wouldn’t trigger an immediate suspension anymore. Instead, they’d be flagged as an atypical finding until further investigation.
Guess what? The M3 metabolite was on that list of substances.
In his fight, Johns won a unanimous decision over Dan Argueta. That victory still stands. The commission didn’t try to overturn it as part of the ruling they handed down on Tuesday.
What’s next for Johns? He’ll have to stick to standard drug testing protocols when he returns to fight in Nevada after his suspension is lifted.