USADA announced via a press release on their official website that former UFC middleweight title challenger, Kelvin Gastelum, has accepted a sanction for his second USADA violation.

Gastelum has been hit with a nine-month suspension for his second failed test for marijuana. The official statement reads:

“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.”

The press release also confirmed that Gastelum’s successful completion of the USADA Drug Treatment Program has led to a five-month reduction in his sanction making the period of ineligibility four months. This is also backdated to the date the test was conducted back in November 2019 meaning that Gastelum is now eligible to compete.

“Gastelum’s nine-month period of ineligibility began on November 3, 2019, the date his positive sample was collected. Based on Gastelum’s successful completion of a drug treatment program, his period of ineligibility was reduced by five months.”

Gastelum has confirmed the news on social media, accepting full responsibility for the failed test and looking forward to his next fight.

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