Kelvin Gastelum

Kelvin Gastelum accepts second USADA suspension for marijuana

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is punishing UFC middleweight Kelvin Gastelum again.

The 28-year-old accepted a nine-month suspension from USADA after testing positive for marijuana for the second time. Gastelum received a five-month reduction to his sanction since he completed a drug treatment program.

The positive test stems from a sample taken at UFC 244 on Nov. 3, 2019. Gastelum lost by split decision to Darren Till, a part of a two-fight losing skid for the California native. 

His first violation dates back to first-round TKO against Vitor Belfort at UFC Fight Night 106 in March 2017. The victory was overturned to a no contest after he tested positive for the first time. 

Gastelum served a 90-day suspension for the infraction. He is in a similar situation this time around.

USADA’s statement

USADA announced today that Kelvin Gastelum, of Huntington Beach, Calif., has accepted a nine-month sanction for his second violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy (UFC APD) and received a five-month reduction to his sanction following the successful completion of a drug treatment program.

Gastelum, 28, tested positive for 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (Carboxy-THC) over the Decision Limit of 180 ng/mL, a urinary metabolite of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, marijuana, and/or hashish as the result of a sample collected in-competition at UFC 244 New York, New York on November 3, 2019. Cannabis, marijuana, and hashish are Specified Substances in the class of Cannabinoids and prohibited in-competition under the UFC Prohibited List.

Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, Cannabinoids are considered Substances of Abuse. If an athlete can establish that the Substance of Abuse was not used to enhance his or her performance in a bout, the athlete is eligible for a reduction to his or her period of ineligibility upon the full and satisfactory completion of an approved rehabilitation program. Gastelum also tested positive for Carboxy-THC in 2017 and accepted the resulting sanction.”

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Connor Northrup
Connor Northrup once covered municipal meetings and promised himself never again. He is now combining his passion for Mixed Martial Arts and reporting all into one.