On Monday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission upheld the temporary suspension of heavyweight Luis Ortiz pending a formal hearing next month in the wake of his having tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone following last month’s first-round knockout of Lateef Kayode.

“He tried to request a continuance so that there was no suspension until the actual hearing and that got denied,” said Bob Bennett, executive director of the NSAC. “So the temporary suspension still is in effect and his formal hearing referencing the violation will be heard at the next commission meeting in November on a date to be determined.”

Ortiz-Kayode took place on Sept. 11 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The steroid was discovered during the post-fight drug screen submitted before the fight by Ortiz, according to a document emailed to RingTV.com last week by Chris Eccles, deputy attorney general and legal counsel to the NSAC.

Ortiz’s attorney sought the lifting of the suspension as well as more time to prepare for a future hearing, in part, based on his contention that the ring absence will severely hinder the 35-year-old fighter’s career.

If Ortiz is found guilty, he faces up to a 100 percent fine of his purse, having his license revoked and as much as a license suspension of “longer than a year,” Eccles said. In addition, Ortiz’s victory over Kayode would also be changed to a no-contest.

Ortiz (22-0, 19 KOs) was coming off a fourth-round knockout of former title challenger Monte Barrett in April.

Note: In another move, the NSAC’s five commissioners voted unanimously to extend the term of chairman Francisco Aguilar to a second year.

“I’ve always tried to do what I think is the best and I look forward to continuing to work with everybody as a team. I think that we have a really good team approach. I know that I have always looked to other commissioners for advice and guidance and direction,” said Aguilar during the meeting. “I will continue to even make a greater effort to do that. I want to do what’s best for all of us. I work for all of you in representing this commission and I hope that I can continue to do the job that I do. I know that I need to learn and I will continue to learn.”