Gastelum rebuked by Brazilian sports court for post-agreement complaints

The UFC’s independent drug testing agency does not test for recreational drugs outside of competition. However, recreational drugs including marijuana are tested for in-competition. Alcohol is treated in a similar fashion – you are not tested for alcohol out of competition, but are prohibited from fighting while drunk.

Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs have a cutoff of 50 ng/ML. World Anti-Doping Agency has a threshold of 150 ng/ML. USADA uses 180 ng/ML. UFC fighter Kelvin Gastelum tested positive above that level at UFC Fight Night 106: Belfort vs. Gastelum on March 11 in Fortaleza, Brazil. Gastelum was then removed from a scheduled fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 212 on June 3, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

UFC Fight Night 106 on March 11 in Fortaleza, Brazil was regulated by Brazil’s Comissão Atlética Brasileira de MMA. While no one in the MMA space tests for recreational drugs outside of competition. A large number of recreational drugs including marijuana are tested for in-competition. Alcohol is treated in a similar fashion – you are not tested for alcohol out of competition, but are prohibited from fighting while drunk.

Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs have a cutoff threshold of 50 ng/ML on marijuana test. The World Anti-Doping Agency has a threshold of 150 ng/ML. USADA uses 180 ng/ML. UFC fighter Kelvin Gastelum tested positive above that level. Gastelum was then removed from a scheduled fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 212 on June 3, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Earlier this week, Raphael Marinho for Brazil’s Combate reported that a plea agreement has been reached between the relevant parties. Gastelum’s win over Vitor Belfort was overturned, the fighter was fined 20% of his disclosed purse, and suspended for three months, retroactive to the test date.

Then Gastelum posted an angry message on his social network.

https://twitter.com/KelvinGastelum/status/861324811330404352

During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Gastelum said he ceased smoking marijuana three weeks before the fight, as usual.

The Brazilian sports court was not impressed, and president Marcelo Sedlmayer released a statement to MMA Fighting.

1. He initially told CABMMA and STJD that he used a medication that had THC – in other words, for medicinal use only.
2. Today he changes his version and says he smoked.
3. He claims that he has a license to use marijuana in California, however, he NEVER presented that license to CABMMA and STJD.
4. His license is only valid in California, since each state and country has its laws.
5. In addition to not submitting his license, he never informed the name of the medication, the dosage (medical prescription) and name/information of the doctor and why it would be necessary for him to use the substance.
Finally, there are innumerable arguments that he manifests that have no foundation and are supported by lies. To make it worse, he claims that he smoked three weeks before the fight. That dosage far superior denies that thesis.
It sounds weird an athlete to seek for a plea agreement, sign it, agree with everything, and then go to the media to complain only about the fine.
Professional athletes have the power and duty to be an example. Fans can’t be fans of bad examples. Thousands of people, including children, might have as a reference or incentive to use drugs associated to sports, as something beneficial or to succeed.

Sedlmayer said that despite the fighter altering his version of the facts, the 90-day suspension would not be changed. Gastelum will be free to compete on June 11.