Yet another prominent mixed martial artist has been flagged for banned substances, as the UFC announced longtime lightweight contender Gilbert Melendez has failed a post-fight drug test following his UFC 188 bout with Eddie Alvarez. The UFC released a statement on its website saying the following:
Following his bout at UFC 188 in Mexico City on June 13, UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez tested positive for exogenous origin of testosterone metabolites. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by our athletes. As a result of the positive test, Melendez has accepted a one-year suspension, effective from the date of the bout, for violating the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy and Promotional Agreement with Zuffa, LLC.
Melendez was long regarded as one of the top fighters outside the UFC. Fighting in Strikeforce, Pride, Shooto and WEC from 2002 to 2012, El Nino acquired a slew of belts and worked his way onto many top-10 rankings without ever fighting in the Octagon. He made his long-awaited UFC debut in 2013 in a UFC-Strikeforce title unification bout opposite Benson Henderson, which he would lose via split decision.
Melendez joins a long list of former champions from major promotions who have failed drug tests in recent months, including former UFC champion Anderson Silva, former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz and former Bellator champions Hector Lombard and Alexander Shlemenko. For the infraction, the UFC has suspended Melendez for a year, retroactive to the fight.
Just spoke with @ALIAQUINTA. He didn’t know about the Melendez news. Not sure his statement is printable, but let’s just say he’s not happy.
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) July 6, 2015
The bout also scraps the UFC Fight Night 71 co-main event, which was set to feature Melendez alongside hot up-and-comer Al Iaquinta. Rather than having the UFC seek out an opponent, Iaquinta told Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour he will instead rehab a longstanding knee injury. In all likelihood, the lightweight bout between former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson and The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 winner Tony Ferguson will move up into the co-headline spot.
This story is still developing, and it is worth watching whether or not the Nevada State Athletic Commission takes Melendez to task for the failed drug test. Keep an eye on Bleacher Report for more news as it becomes available.
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