Gleison Tibau Receives 2-Year Suspension from USADA After Testing Positive for EPO

UFC lightweight Gleison Tibau has received a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after failing both in- and out-of-competition drug tests in a two-week span late last year.

In tests conducted on Oct. 23 in Coconut Creek, Fla., and on Nov. 7 in Sao Paulo, Tibau tested postive for erythropoietin (EPO), a synthetic hormone used to stimulate the body’s production of red blood cells and increase oxygen transport and aerobic power. USADA revealed the results of Tibau’s test and the fighter’s punishment on Thursday.

Tibau suspension will be retroactive to Nov. 7, when he submitted Abel Trujillo 1:45 into the opening round at UFC Fight Night “Belfort vs. Henderson 3.” As a result, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) has overturned the result of the bout to give Tibau a loss, according to the USADA statement.

The UFC later issued a statement on Thursday recognizing USADA’s punishment. The Las Vegas-based promotion partnered with USADA last year to oversee its anti-doping policy.

Tibau is one of the UFC’s longest-tenured fighters, competing 26 times inside the Octagon since joining the organization in 2006.