Sean O’ Malley has been temporarily suspended by NSAC and pulled from UFC 239 after two drug tests found traces of Ostarine in his system.
O’ Malley has already served a six month suspension for trace amounts of the banned substance, avoiding a lengthier spell on the sidelines after it was proved that it likely came from a contaminated supplement.
It may well be that these latest tests are simply just due to the fact that his previous ingestion of the substance has now completely left his system yet, but it seems that NSAC are not taking any chances, which will further delay his return to action.
“Punished twice for doing nothing wrong,” O’ Malley wrote on Instagram. “I have never taken anything illegal. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I will continue to train and get better everyday. “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength” -Marcus Aurelius.”
O’ Malley also issued a full statement explaining what’s happening in more detail.
“USADA has notified me that ostarine, the substance that showed up in my system last year and led to USADA sanctioning me, has resurfaced at an extremely low level in two recent tests,” O’Malley wrote. “The good news is that USADA says this is most likely residual from last year and that the low level is providing me with no performance advantage. That’s why USADA is not re-sanctioning me for these test results. I already served a USADA sanction for the presence of ostarine in my system, and it has decreased dramatically since last year.
“The bad news is that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has temporarily suspended me while they look into the situation. I feel terrible to let down my fans who were looking forward to watching me fight in Las Vegas next month, I look forward to publicly discussing my case before the Nevada State Athletic Commission with scientific experts who can explain why very low levels of ostarine are showing up in my system.
“I want to make one thing very clear: I have never purposely taken any prohibited substance to gain an advantage. I will subject myself to whatever additional testing is required of me by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. I want to get this situation finally cleared up so I can return to the Octagon as soon as I can.”
