UFC 174 main event goes on despite failed test

The UFC 174 main event is not in jeopardy despite a recently revealed failed drug test from Ali Bagautinov. (Tim Larsen/AP)

The UFC 174 main event is not in jeopardy despite a recently-revealed failed drug test from Ali Bagautinov.

According to a report from Russian outlet mmaboxing.ru, Bagautinov received a two-year ban from the International Sambo Federation retrospective to a positive test from November 2012.

Bagautinov is reported to have tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant that is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It is found in some supplements and acts primarily as a short-term stimulant. In 2012, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman was suspended 50 games when he tested positive for the substance.

Last week, UFC president Dana White told reporters in Las Vegas prior to UFC 173 that something happened with Bagautinov at his camp, but wouldn’t discuss it further, which led to some speculation the status for the UFC 174 main event fighter was up in the air.

On Tuesday, UFC officials confirmed with Sportsnet that the promotion is proceeding with the event as planned. The 28-year-old Dagestani-born Russian is scheduled to fight Demetrious Johnson at the June 14 event in Vancouver with the flyweight title on the line.

Bagautinov (13-2) is unbeaten in three UFC bouts, knocking out Marcos Vinicius and winning unanimous decisions over Tim Elliott and John Lineker. Prior to his MMA career, Bagautinov competed in combat sambo where he was a five-time Russian national champion and two-time world champion.

Johnson (19-2-1) is unbeaten at flyweight and has defended his title three consecutive times in specatular fashion — he beat John Dodson by unanimous decision in a Fight of the Night; he won Submission of the Night when he armbarred John Moraga; he won Knockout of the Night when he became the first person to finish Joseph Benavidez.

The event is the promotion’s first event in the city in three years; the headlining bouts for the first two UFC events in Vancouver underwent last-minute changes because of injuries and illness. Tito Ortiz pulled out of a trilogy bout with Chuck Liddell at UFC 115 with a neck injury and was replaced by Rich Franklin, while Brock Lesnar was forced out of a matchup with Junior dos Santos at UFC 131 due to illness and was replaced by Shane Carwin.

Here is a look at the fight card to date:

MAIN CARD
– Demetrious Johnson vs Ali Bagautinov
– Rory MacDonald vs Tyron Woodley
– Brendan Schaub vs Andrei Arlovski
– Ryan Bader vs Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante
– Ryan Jimmo vs Ovince St. Preux

PRELIMINARY CARD
– Yves Jabouin vs Mike Easton
– Kajan Johnson vs Tae Hyun Bang
– Daniel Sarafian vs Kiichi Kunimoto
– Roland Delorme vs Michinori Tanaka
– Germaine de Randemie vs Milena Dudevia
— Jason Saggo vs Josh Shockley

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.