Gleison Tibau 'provisionally suspended' after potential USADA violation
The latest casualty of the USADA era looks to be Gleison Tibau.
The UFC released a statement on Friday announcing that the Brazilian veteran has been "provisionally suspended" due to a potential failed out-of-competition drug test. The news comes less than a month after Tibau's Nov. 7 victory over Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night 77, which was his 17th in the promotion.
The UFC's statement can be read below:
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has notified both Gleison Tibau and UFC that he has been provisionally suspended due to a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition test.
USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Gleison Tibau. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time in the process.
Tibau, 32, has fought in the UFC a remarkable 26 times since making his Octagon debut in 2006, compiling a 17-9 record and defeating the likes of Caol Uno, Jeremy Stephens, and Rafael dos Anjos, among others. He currently owns the most wins in the promotion's lightweight history.
Although he has historically been one of the largest lightweights on the roster throughout his run, Tibau has never before failed a pre- or post-fight drug test under the UFC umbrella.
MMA Fighting has reached out to Tibau for comment.