The United States Anti-Doping Agency released a statement today saying that Mirko Filipovic, better known as Mirko Cro Cop, has officially been suspended from UFC competition for two years. Cro Cop had admitted to having human growth hormone, a banned substance, mixed with blood plasma injections intended to speed up the healing of a shoulder injury. He had also announced his retirement before the USADA news came out.
From the statement:
Filipovic, 41, admitted to the use, attempted use, and possession of human growth hormone (“hGH”) following an out-of-competition test conducted on November 4, 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia. On the day he was tested, prior to any results being reported, Filipovic contacted the UFC to advise them that he had been using hGH in violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Thereafter, on November 9, 2015, Filipovic admitted to USADA as well that he had been using the prohibited substance.
It’s not yet clear if a blood test result has actually come back yet or if this based entirely on his admission. USADA’s media relations representative was unavailable at press time since the company took an early start to the Thanksgiving holiday. It was noted in the press release that “Due to Filipovic’s prompt admission of his anti-doping policy violations, he avoided the imposition of a four-year sanction, as permitted under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy where aggravating circumstances are present.”
Cro Cop had been scheduled to fight Anthony Hamilton on this Saturday’s UFC card on Seoul, South Korea, the promotion’s debut in the country.
