Troubled middleweight suspended for UFC 138 drug test failure
UFC middleweight Chris Leben was suspended for one year after testing positive for Oxycodone and Oxymorphine following his Nov. 5 loss to Mark Munoz at UFC 138.
The UFC today announced the test results and suspension. All remaining fighters on the UFC 138 card passed their drug tests.
“I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he’s been suspended for one year,” UFC President Dana White said. “If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life.”
Leben also issued an apology.
“I would like to make it known that I fully accept this suspension and apologize for embarrassing the UFC, my friends and family, and sport of mixed martial arts,” Leben said. “I’m learning that I’m my own worst enemy sometimes. I can’t succeed in the Octagon or in life behaving this way. I’ve got to make some real changes over the next year and I’m going to focus on getting my life and career back on track. Again, I’m sorry to the UFC and fans that’ve supported me since my days on The Ultimate Fighter.”
The drug test failure is not Leben’s first incident since being employed by the UFC. He was arrested on April 30, 2008 for an outstanding warrant for an earlier DUI, causing his scheduled UFC 85 main event bout with Michael Bisping to be postponed until UFC 89. After the fight with Bisping, Leben tested positive for the steroid Stanozolol and was suspended for nine months.
