Independent Arbitrator Imposes Two-Year
Sanction on Geraldo Augusto de Freitas Junior for UFC Anti-Doping
Policy Violation https://t.co/O113PpG3A2— USADA (@usantidoping)
October 13, 2021
If there is any consolation, it is that the 30-year-old Brazilian
bantamweight has already competed back in his home country since
leaving the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
On Wednesday, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that
former UFC bantamweight fighter Geraldo
de Freitas Jr. would receive a two-year ban from fighting. The
Brazilian failed an out-of-competition drug test collected on Oct.
14, 2020, for the exogenous administration of testosterone. While
de Freitas argued during the evidentiary hearings that the test was
collected erroneously, an independent arbitrator ultimately
dismissed his claims as inconclusive. His period of ineligibility
began on Jan. 11, although the UFC let him go in March.
“Geraldo Augusto de Freitas’ urine sample was analyzed using a
specialized test, known as Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR) testing, that
differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally
produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external
origin,” read the USADA
press release. “The CIR test confirmed the presence of
testosterone and/or its precursors of external origin in Augusto de
Freitas’ urine sample.”
De Freitas (13-6) debuted in the UFC in 2019 with a victory over
Felipe
Dias Colares at UFC Fight Night 144, before collecting
back-to-back defeats by split decision to Chris
Gutierrez and Tony
Gravely at UFC Fight Nights 156 and 182, respectively. The
promotion then cut ties with the Nova Uniao representative early
into 2021. “The Spartan” bounced back on track after submitting
Marcos
Cordeiro at Shooto Brazil 108 in July, in a move reminiscent of
past fighters like Vitor
Belfort and Josh Barnett
who were suspended in the U.S. and went to compete elsewhere.