Joilton Lutterbach signed a contract to fight Shara Magomedov on late notice at UFC Saudi Arabia this Saturday, but was removed from the card after testing positive for a banned substance. A day after news broke, the Brazilian middleweight admitted he was doping on purpose.
“I actually used juice three months ago and had no idea that I would sign with the UFC,” Lutterbach wrote on social media. “I could have hidden in the mountains or gone to Thailand to hide as many do and are not tested, but I preferred to take the risk and believe I was clean and fit to fight.”
Lutterbach wrote that he had signed the UFC three weeks before the date of the fight and “I figured I was in the clear.” However, the undisclosed substance still showed on his drug test.
Drug Free Sport International, the entity that has taken over the UFC anti-doping program after the promotion recently parted ways with USADA, has yet to announce a suspension for the Brazilian.
Lutterbach was replaced by Antonio Trocoli, who now faces Magomedov this weekend in Riyadh.
“Sub Zero will certainly be frozen for a few months without fighting or freezing anyone,” wrote Lutterbach, who signed with the UFC after winning his past four MMA bouts, plus others matches in karate, boxing and kickboxing. “I would like to say sorry to the UFC and to my opponent Shara. I will be frozen and not dead. I will be back soon.”
Check Lutterbach’s full statement below.
