Kelvin Gastelum Flagged By USADA; Off UFC 212

Kelvin Gastelum has been notified by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) of a potential in-competition failed drug test for marijuana after UFC Fight Night 106.

With that being said, the TUF champion has also been pulled from an upcoming bout against former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at UFC 212.

Gastelum failed for a substance known as Carboxy-THC, which is a marijuana metabolite or hashish, according to USADA.

Here is a statement issued by the UFC:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed Kelvin Gastelum of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation involving Carboxy-Tetrahydrocannabinol (“Carboxy-THC”) which is a metabolite of marijuana and/or hashish, above the decision limit of 150 ng/mL, stemming from an in-competition sample collected in conjunction with his recent bout in Fortaleza, Brazil on March 11, 2017. USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Gastelum, as it relates to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and future UFC participation. Because the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) was the regulatory body overseeing the fight in Fortaleza and has licensing jurisdiction over Gastelum, USADA will work to ensure that the Commission has the necessary information to determine its proper judgment of Gastelum’s potential anti-doping violation. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

As a result of the potential anti-doping violation against Gastelum, USADA has placed him under a provisional suspension. While the UFC Anti-Doping Policy affords Gastelum full and fair due process rights before any possible adjudication of his case, because of the proximity to Gastelum’s scheduled June 3rd bout against Anderson Silva, Gastelum is being removed from the card and a replacement is currently being sought.

The statement says that Silva will remain on the UFC 212 card, as UFC officials are seeking a replacement for him to take on.

UFC 212 takes place on Saturday, June 3 from the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil with Jose Also and Max Holloway headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.