mma / News

Kelvin Gastelum’s Win Over Vitor Belfort Gets Overturned, Punishment Handed Down for Failed Drug Test

May 7, 2017 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris

Combate (via MMAjunkie) reports that Kelvin Gastelum’s previous victory over Vitor Belfort at UFC Fight Night 106 has been overturned. The win was overturned after Gastelum failed an in-competition drug text for carboxytetrahydrocannibinol (THC metabolite commonly found in marijuana). The test was based off a sample collected the same day as the event.

Gastelum’s potential failed test was revealed on April 6. The Superior Tribunal de Justica Desportiva do MMA (STJDMMA – Brazilian Superior Justice Court of MMA) later confirmed that an agreement had been reached with Gastelum. As a result, Gastelum’s win over Belfort has been officially overturned and declared a No Contest. Also, Gastelum has been suspended for 90 days, retroactively to his test on March 11. He was also fined 20 percent of his purse, which will be held by the athletic commission.

A plea agreement was made in accordance to representatives with USADA, the UFC, and Cristiano Sampaio of the Comissao Atletica Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA). As a result of the ruling, Gastelum is unlikely to face further penalties from USADA. Here’s the full statement from STJDMMA President Marcelo Sedlmayer on the matter:

“Marcelo Sedlmayer Jorge, president of the Superior Sports Justice Court – MMA and the entity’s attorney (Emmanuel Guedes Ferreira), in a joint effort with CABMMA, represented by Cristiano Sampaio, have formalized an agreement with the athlete Kelvin Gastelum, his lawyers and USADA. The athlete has officially confessed to the use of the Carboxy-THC substance, has publicly apologized. The athlete makes a commitment not to break any other norm of the sport, under risk of aggravated penalties due to repeated offense.”