Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw handed two-year ban by USADA after testing positive for EPO
Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw has been handed a two-year suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) prior to a flyweight title fight.
Dillashaw was scheduled to take on Henry Cejudo on January 19 in New York and the ban comes less than one month after Dillashaw willingly relinquished his bantamweight championship.
The 33-year-old's nutritionist and strength and conditioning coach, Sam Calavitta, told ESPN that his team would "stand beside (Dillashaw) in his journey forward".
"Although not right and inexcusable, TJ succumbed to the relentless pressure to win at any cost for the purposes of appeasing his employers, pleasing his fan base and providing for his family, a sentiment that we all can relate to," Calavitta said.
Dillashaw's suspension was met with glee by his rival Cody Garbrandt (left) who labelled him a 'coward' AAP
The two-year suspension handed down to Dillashaw is the maximum possible sanction for a nonspecified substance under the UFC's current anti-doping program.
Dillashaw is the second UFC fighter to test positive for EPO since the UFC and USADA teamed up in 2015, with lightweight Gleison Tibau the previous fighter.
One of Dillashaw's rivals, Cody Garbrandt, slammed the veteran fighter following the news of his ban, branding him a "coward".
"Test all his samples I bet for a fact more EPO pops up, (Dillashaw) is a coward," Garbrandt tweeted.
"TJ call me when that suspension is up! Scum bag."
Dillashaw is currently ranked the No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by ESPN and will be eligible to compete again in January 2021.
