UFC flyweight Ali Bagautinov tested positive for EPO prior to UFC 174, suspended for one year

"There were eight UFC 174 competitors tested on June 14, 2014, for the presence of banned

substances, including the two flyweight title fighters and six random competitors. All

competitors’ test results complied with World Anti-Doping Agency Standards subscribed to by

the BC athletic commissioner, as well as our anti-doping policies.

"In addition to the June 14 tests, Mr. Ali Bagautinov – one of the two flyweight title fighters –

was tested out of competition on June 2, 2014.

"Results received by this office from the June 2 tests on Mr. Bagautinov were positive for

erythropoietin, or EPO – a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. These results

were not available prior to the UFC 174 event due to lab processing times.

"I have suspended Mr. Bagautinov’s licence to compete in British Columbia for a period of one year."

Bold emphasis is mine, just for full clarification as to why Bagautinov was still allowed to compete on the card.

EPO was in the MMA news as recently as a couple of weeks ago when Chael Sonnen tested positive for both that banned substance and HGH. Brent Brookhouse explained one of the major benefits to EPO usage in the Sonnen post:

EPO allows your blood to carry more oxygen which significantly increases stamina (one of the key drugs involved with the Lance Armstrong scandal)

This is obviously a major story and even bigger when you factor in reports that Bagautinov was banned from the International Sambo Federation after a 2012 drug test flagged him for use of the performance-enhancing substance Methylhexaneamine. Bagautinov later denied the report, a story that was coincidentally published on the same day that he'd submitted his drug test to the BC AC.

Bloody Elbow will provide more updates on this developing story as they become available.