Kelvin Gastelum has accepted a 3-month suspension from USADA as a result of an in-competition sample finding of marijuana. However, Gastelum will be ready to fight this summer and a rumored bout with Chris Weidman may headline July’s UFC on Fox event in New York.
Originally, Gastelum was suspended 6 months but it has been reduced to 3 months. Gastelum defeated Vitor Belfort at UFC Fight Night 106 in Brazil in March. He settled with the Brazilian Sports Court adjudicating the failed drug test in Brazil in which the middleweight paid 20% of his fight purse (in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour he refrained from disclosing how much the fine was) and the decision was reversed to a no-contest. He was also handed a 90-day suspension although he has vowed never to fight in Brazil again.
The USADA suspension runs concurrent with the Brazilian court penalty. It was reduced by USADA as he completed a drug awareness program.
Payout Perspective:
The reduction seemingly makes everything right (except for the 20% purse fine) as Gastelum does not have to sit out a great length and does not have to spend money on an appeal of the decision. We should know on Friday when Gastelum is fighting although headlining a UFC on Fox event should be a nice present for the trouble he has gone through with the finding. Obviously, Gastelum must be aware of the USADA rules with the finding of marijuana metabolites so he has to be careful.
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