Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le testing positive for Human Growth Hormone following UFC Fight Night 48 and the UFC has reacted by issuing the unorthodox striker a nine-month suspension.

The world’s premiere mixed martial arts organization broke the news on their official website yesterday.

“UFC middleweight Cung Le tested positive for an excess level of Human Growth Hormone in his system following his fight at UFC Fight Night in Macao, China on August 23,” the statement says.

“ … The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by our athletes. Le will serve a nine-month suspension and, at its conclusion, will need to pass a drug test before competing in the UFC again.”

The performance-enhancing drug usage didn’t do Le any favors, as he was beaten and battered by Michael Bisping at UFC Fight Night 48, losing the matchup by TKO early in the fourth round.

Le was a bloody mess after the contest in what was widely viewed as one of the most brutal, lopsided main events in UFC history.

The 42-year-old will probably seriously consider retirement, if it wasn’t in the cards already, given his age and 2-2 records in his past four fights (spanning back to November 2011).