WOAH! @BulldozerBoser
showcasing INSANE GnP!The card continues on @ESPN.#InAbuDhabi
| @VisitAbuDhabi
|
#UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/QXA2ZTVjPf— UFC (@ufc)
July 25, 2020
UFC heavyweight Raphael
Pessoa has accepted a one-year suspension for an anti-doping
violation, USADA announced Monday.
Pessoa tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and its
metabolites chlorothiazide and
4-amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide (ACB) in an
out-of-competition sample collected on March 4. HCTZ is a diuretic,
which can dilute urine and disguise the presence of other banned
substances in a drug test.
According to the statement, the results of Pessoa’s test were
delayed by laboratory closures forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That allowed Pessoa to compete at UFC on ESPN 14 on July 25, where
he suffered a second-round technical knockout loss to Tanner
Boser. Normally Pessoa would have been pulled from that bout
ahead of time upon testing positive for a banned substance.
Pessoa’s suspension is retroactive to the date of the sample
collection, meaning that he will be eligible to compete again on
March 4, 2021.
A 31-year-old native of Rio de Janeiro, Pessoa is 1-2 during his
tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion. After suffering a
submission loss to Ciryl Gane
in his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 156, “Bebezao” rebounded to
outpoint Jeff Hughes
at UFC Fight Night 162. Pessoa began his professional career with
nine straight triumphs.