USADA has issued a two-year suspension to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic for the use of human growth hormone prior to his canceled fight with Anthony Hamilton at UFC Fight Night 79. Cro Cop withdrew from the fight and announced his retirement from fighting prior to the news of his failed drug test.
Cro Cop is the first UFC fighter to be penalized under the UFC anti-doping policy.
USADA announced the suspension on the UFC-USADA web site. The statement indicated that Cro Cop had been tested out of competition on November 4, 2015. But, prior to the test results being revealed, he told the UFC he had been using hGH. On November 9, 2015, he admitted to USADA of using hGH.
Via USADA:
Filipovic’s period of ineligibility began on November 9, 2015, the date he first admitted to his anti-doping policy violations to USADA. In addition, Filipovic has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to October 30, 2015, the date on which he first used hGH in violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, including forfeiture of any title, ranking, purse or other compensation.
The UFC issued a statement on Cro Cop’s suspension:
UFC recognizes the two-year sanction issued today to Mirko Cro Cop by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for violations of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
UFC secured the services of USADA, a third-party agency, earlier this year to administer its Anti-Doping Policy to ensure that all athletes compete on an even playing field, free of performance enhancing drugs. UFC appreciates Cro Cop’s disclosure and admission of usage of a prohibited substance, and supports the issuance of necessary sanctions to maintain a clean sport.
Cro Cop has subsequently announced his retirement from the sport after a storied career. UFC recognizes his accomplishments in the sport of mixed martial arts and wishes him well in future endeavors.
Payout Perspective:
While there is an appeal process for the disciplinary action, it appears that Cro Cop’s admission of the use would reflect that he will just take the punishment. At 41, his career comes to an end on a bad note. Then again, the issue of whether or not other commissions/organizations will honor this ruling is another question. So, if Cro Cop were to consider making a comeback, would he really have to wait 2 years based on USADA’s ruling?
UFC’s guide to doing dirty business:
Step 1,546,343: When a fighter becomes useless and doesn’t sell as much as before, get rid of him by letting him fail a drug test. This can be done by convincing (usually with money) your USADA cronies to reveal the real test results that they would otherwise keep hidden. This step is very efficient because by getting rid of said fighter you are making room for other more profitable cashcows and the fact that the fighter gets suspended renders him useless for other rival companies.
Step 1,345,466,565: Never ever talk about the fact that the UFC actively kept Belfort’s failed doping test results hidden.