TJ Dillashaw Suspended From UFC 238

By Loan Cat

On April 9, 2019, the USADA announced that TJ Dillashaw has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

“We all know the pressures to win at all levels of all sport are real and intense,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart. “It is exactly why strong anti-doping efforts are necessary to protect clean athletes’ rights, health, and safety, and to ensure that those who do succumb to these pressures and decide to break the rules will be held accountable in a real and meaningful way, as in this case.”

Dillashaw tested positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) as the result of an in-competition urine sample he provided on January 18, 2019. Because the hormone increases red blood cells, it increases transportation of oxygen and aerobic power. 

Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, was adopted by the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. 

Dillashaw’s ineligibility is retroactive to January 18, 2019, the date the sample was collected. The standard sanction for a non-Specified Substance under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, is two years.

Dillashaw began his athletic career at Bret Harte High School as a wrestler. During that time, he was a four-time sectional qualifier and two-time California Interscholastic Federation state qualifier. Dillashaw completed his high school wrestling career with an overall record of 170-33.

With an impressive high school career, it was no wonder Dillashaw received a scholarship to wrestle at Cal State Fullerton Titans. In 2006, he traveled to the Ukraine to work on his wrestling skills. Upon his return, while wrestling for Cal State, he placed fourth in 2007, in the Pac-10 Championship. 

In 2008, Dillashaw finished in fourth place in the Pac-10 Championship, and second place in the Cliff Keen Invitational. As a senior at Cal State, he was ranked 10th in the nation, and is a three-time NCAA qualifier. 

Today, Dillashaw resides in Denver with his wife and son.

Images courtesy of Instagram.

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