Ion Cutelaba Pulled from UFC 217 Due to Possible Anti-Doping Violation

A light heavyweight matchup between Ion Cutelaba and Michal Oleksiejczuk scheduled for UFC 217 has been scraped after Cutelaba was flagged for a potential anti-doping violation by USADA.

“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Ion Cutelaba of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from its investigation into voluntary disclosures by Cutelaba during an out-of-competition sample collections on October 18 and October 19, 2017,” a statement from the Las Vegas-based promotion read. “USADA has provisionally suspended Cutelaba and his fight against Michal Oleksiejczuk has been canceled from the November 4, 2017, UFC 217 fight card.”

As usual, USADA will handle results management and adjudication of the Cutelaba case. The 23-year-old fighter is entitled to a full review process before any sanctions are imposed. Cutelaba last appeared at UFC Fight Night 110, where he scored a 22-second knockout of Henrique da Silva on June 10.

UFC 217 will proceed with 11 bouts. Saturday’s card takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York and is headlined by a middleweight championship clash between Michael Bisping and Georges St. Pierre.