Cub Swanson 'Forgives' Teammate T.J. Dillashaw after Doping Violation

Longtime featherweight contender Cub Swanson spoke out in support of his teammate T.J. Dillashaw ahead of his own bout this weekend at UFC Fight Night 151 in Ottawa.

Dillashaw relinquished the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight belt in March, and was subsequently suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for a year, for testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) prior to his fight with Henry Cejudo in January. The former champ was subsequently hit with a two-year ban from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for that offense, which superseded the NYSAC’s penalty.

Swanson, who is mired in a three-fight losing streak, albeit against some of the very best the featherweight division has to offer in Renato Carneiro and former title challengers Frankie Edgar and Brian Ortega, is preparing to face Shane Burgos this weekend. At an official media event on Thursday, the veteran provided his thoughts on his teammate Dillashaw’s suspension and the negative light it may have shone on the team (transcription via MMAJunkie):

“I kind of found out like everybody else,” Swanson said. “It was quite a shock, because as far as our team, we have standards and stuff like that about being honest and going through stuff. But he’s still a part of our team, and it’s a decision he made. We forgive him for it. It’s unfortunate. Obviously, I didn’t like being put in pictures and the whole team being accused of stuff -- that’s not true. He feels terrible about the whole situation, and the talking’s been pretty minimal [between him and me] because I was training for this fight. But we’re working past it. I think it did [shine a negative light on the team]. But people can think what they want. I got drug tested more this camp, which is fine. I’m for more drug testing because I don’t do any of that -- it doesn’t bother me.”