Walt Harris Image: Adam Hagy/USA TODAY Sports

UFC Heavyweight Handed Four-Year Suspension For Multiple Anti-Doping Violations

Originally posted on MMA News | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated 3/21/24

UFC heavyweight Walt Harris has been slapped with a lengthy suspension for violating the promotion's anti-doping policy.

Harris, a 24-fight MMA veteran who was formerly ranked on the sport's biggest stage, hasn't competed since June 2021. He was initially slated to make his return opposite Josh Parisian last summer, but positive tests for drostanalone, its metabolite 3a-hydroxy-2a-methyl-5a-androstan-17-on, and testosterone of exogenous origin in pre-fight samples saw the bout scrapped.

"The Big Ticket" released a statement, putting the findings down to a supplement he had "trusted" his entire career but that was not on the United States Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA's) approved list.

He was ultimately fined and provisionally suspended for one year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), originally making him eligible for a return to competition in a few months' time.

pic.twitter.com/GTyd7G1gPw
— Walt Harris (@thebigticket205) July 12, 2023

Per a statement recently released on UFC.com, however, it's been revealed that Harris tested positive for another substance, anastrozole, as well drostanalone and its metabolite in urine samples collected last August.

Harris' blood samples also tested positive for the presence of exogenous testosterone again, which was deemed to have derived from new administration after the samples that resulted in his initial fine and suspension.

Harris Accepts 48-Month Suspension For Multiple Doping Violations

Since those tests, the UFC's anti-doping program has changed hands, with USADA departing and Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) coming in to handle samples. It's also administered by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) and its president, George Piro.

The CSAD statement on UFC.com confirmed that Harris has been slapped with a four-year suspension deriving from last summer's positive tests.

Harris' 48-month period of ineligibility began on July 11, 2023, which is the date that he was initially notified of his provisional suspension as a result of his first positive test result.

The news means "The Big Ticket" will be prohibited from competing until July 11, 2027, at which point he will be 44 years of age.

Harris had a difficult time of things inside the Octagon before his layoff, losing three straight to Alistair Overeem, Alexander Volkov, and Marcin Tybura.

During his UFC tenure, which got underway in 2013, "The Big Ticket" has recored wins over the likes of Serghei Spivac and Aleksei Oleinik.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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