Alvin Hines Suspended for One Year After Gutsy UFC Debut. UFC heavyweight Alvin Hines has been handed a one-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance following his debut loss at UFC 317.
Alvin Hines stepped into the Octagon on short notice, taking on Jhonata Diniz in UFC 317. Despite an impressive display of resilience and determination in his debut, Hines came up short, losing by unanimous decision after three rounds. However, his commendable effort endeared him to fans, marking a promising entrance despite the loss. But the story didn’t end there
Month later, news broke that Hines would be sidelined for the entire coming year. After testing positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone, its metabolites, testosterone metabolites, and Tamoxifen, he accepted a one-year suspension under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) confirmed that the test, conducted shortly after the fight, detected a prohibited performance-enhancing substance in his system. its metabolite, 3a-Hydroxy-2a-methyl-5a-androstan-17-one and testosterone metabolites, as well as a metabolite of Tamoxifen, 3-Hydroxy-4-methooxytamoxifen, a hormone and metabolic modulator.
Hines tested positive in two out-of-competition drug tests on June 20 and July 5, as well as an in-competition test on June 28 at UFC 317. According to the UFC, the results suggested he used the substances before signing with the promotion but did not report it when entering the UFC’s anti-doping program. The UFC added that Hines fully cooperated with their investigation, and the levels found in his system were consistent with the final stages of the substances leaving his body, supporting his claim that the use happened before joining the UFC’s registered testing pool.
Hines accepted a one-year suspension under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. His suspension will run until July 11 2026, meaning he won’t be eligible to compete for the next twelve months. This ruling not only halts his UFC career momentum but also raises questions about his future in the promotion.
Hines has not yet made a public statement on the matter. For now, his brief UFC debut will be remembered not for his performance in the cage, but for the controversy that followed.
