UFC heavyweight Walt Harris banned until 2027 for multiple doping test violations

Several positive doping tests resulted in long-time UFC heavyweight Walt Harris being banned for four years, retroactively to the date the sample was taken.

The suspension is the first imposed by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) since the UFC and USADA parted ways in early 2024.

According to CSAD, Harris, 40, was tested for multiple substances in three sample collections. Tests on June 24 and July 12 detected drostanalone and testosterone of exogenous origin.

On August 6, Harris provided blood and urine samples that tested positive for anastrozole as well as the previously detected substances (drostanalone and testosterone of exogenous origin).

Based on the values ​​for testosterone of exogenous origin, CSAD concluded that the negative finding was due to a “new administration”.

Harris was suspended retroactively for four years from the date he was first notified of the adverse results. He will be eligible to compete again on July 11, 2027. Harris was previously suspended for one year by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC).

Before the string of recent negative results, Harris was suspended once in 2019 after testing positive for LGD-4033. The failed test was attributed to a banned substance and Harris told MMA Junkie at the time that he planned to take legal action.

Harris has not competed since his loss to Marcin Tybura in June 2021. The loss was his third in a row.

The story originally appeared on MMA Junkie