Ben Rothwell accepts two-year USADA sanction for failed drug test

It will be a while before we see Ben Rothwell back inside the Octagon.

The 36-year-old UFC heavyweight accepted a two-year sanction for failed out-of-competition drug tests taken back on Feb. 6 and Feb. 15, 2017, USADA officials announced Friday. Rothwell tested positive for “an anabolic androgenic steroid of exogenous origin” according to the release.

Rothwell explained that the test results were due to his physician prescribing him testosterone, but the USADA determined that did not meet the criteria to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption for the prohibited substance.

He will be eligible to compete again on Feb. 6, 2019.

This is the second time Rothwell (36-10) has failed a drug test, though the first under USADA guidelines. In 2013, he received a nine-month suspension from the UFC after it was determined that he had elevated testosterone levels following a TKO-win over Brandon Vera at UFC 164.

Most recently, Rothwell saw a four-fight win streak snapped by Junior dos Santos. The two fought in the main event of UFC Zagreb in April 2016 and dos Santos won a five-round unanimous decision.

Rothwell was scheduled to fight Fabricio Werdum at UFC 211 last May, but the bout was canceled when Rothwell’s failed drug test was announced.