UFC Heavyweight Dave Herman Passes Drug Test, Cleared to Return to Competition

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UFC heavyweight Dave Herman has been cleared to return to competition after recently passing a mandatory drug test.

Sherdog.com on Wednesday confirmed the news with UFC executive Marc Ratner, who also verified that Herman completed a required drug rehabilitation program. MMAJunkie.com first passed along word of Herman’s reinstatement on Tuesday evening.

Herman was suspended for six months last fall after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following a second-round submission defeat to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 153.

Herman’s flagged test marked the second such occurrence for the heavyweight, who also tested positive for marijuana metabolites in a pre-fight drug screen ahead of UFC 136, resulting in the cancellation of a planned bout with Mike Russow. While Herman denied use of the drug in the first instance, he admitted using the substance after his UFC 153 test was flagged and accepted the UFC’s six-month suspension.

Herman, 28, does not currently have a fight booked. The Hoosier began his career with 21 victories in his first 23 outings, capping that stretch with a successful UFC debut against Norwegian submission ace John Olav Einemo. However, the heavyweight has stumbled in his last three contests, as Herman suffered knockout defeats to Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson before succumbing to a “Minotauro” armbar this past October.