Khalid Taha accepts one-year USADA suspension for banned substance

UFC bantamweight Khalid Taha has accepted a one-year suspension from USADA, after he tested positive for a banned substance.

The positive test stems from an in-competition urine sample collected on Oct. 6, the date of Taha’s (14-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) most recent fight.

At UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia, Taha picked up his second promotional victory when he submitted Bruno Silva by third-round arm triangle choke. He missed weight by one pound for the fight, though, and forfeited 20 percent of his purse.

The news of Taha’s failed test was released by USADA in a press release Monday.

The banned substance found in Taha’s system, furosemide, is a diarrhetic clinically used for curing congestive heart failure, liver disease, and other related illnesses.

The USADA press release stated:

“Furosemide is a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the UFC Prohibited List… Taha’s one-year period of ineligibility began on October 6, 2019, the date his positive sample was collected. Under the rules, any decision concerning competition results is handled by the relevant Commissions and UFC.”

Prior to UFC 243, Taha had split his promotional outings. The 27-year-old German fighter debuted in his home country at UFC Fight Night 134 in July 2018, losing an unanimous decision to Nad Narimani.

His sophomore fight with the promotion came at UFC 236 in April, when Narimani knocked out highly-touted prospect Boston Salmon just 25 seconds into the first round.