Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight Ion Cutelaba has accepted a U.S. Anti-Doping Association suspension that will put him on the sidelines for no less than six months.
Thursday, USADA unveiled a press release that the promotion will pull “The Hulk” on the sidelines for half of a calendar year. According to the statement released by USADA, Cutelaba admitted that he underwent ozone therapy on paperwork associated with two separate of out-of-competition drug tests conducted Oct. 18 and 19 of last year.
“The WADA Prohibited List prohibits the administration or reintroduction of blood or red blood cell products of any origin or quantity in the circulatory system, unless a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption has been obtained,” USADA’s official release wrote. “While Cutelaba was unaware of the violation and declared the treatment on his doping control paperwork, he was unable to refute the documentation provided.”
Due to his admission, the Moldovan native’s suspension is retroactive to Nov. 3, the same date he was pulled from a potential UFC light heavyweight clash with Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 217, scheduled for Nov. 4 of last year, the blockbuster card headlined by Georges St. Pierre’s triumphant return to the cage, capturing the middleweight crown from Michael Bisping.
The 24-year-old Cutelaba’s last official bout came at UFC Fight Night 110, where he knocked out Brazilian Henrique da Silva in a mere 22 seconds. “The Hulk” has officially gone 2-2 under UFC employ, alternating wins and losses over his Octagon tenure.