CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPWINDOWS APPRSS
NEW FORUM

GOT THE MMATORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Kindle Fire
Windows Phone
MMATORCH IPHONE APP

MMATORCH

All the MMA News • Plus Intelligent, Brilliant, Addictive Points of View!
Independently Covering MMA Since 1993 • No Big Corporate Bosses

UFC
USADA issues two year sanction to Mirko Cro Cop over admitted HGH use; UFC issues statement
Nov 25, 2015 - 5:30:39 PM
USADA issues two year sanction to Mirko Cro Cop over admitted HGH use; UFC issues statement
DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM
...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!



By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Mirko Cro Cop has been hit with a two year sanction from USADA following his admitted use of human growth hormone (HGH).

USADA announced the sanctions on Friday, citing Cro Cop's personal admittance to the substance after a random drug test conducted on Nov. 4. News of the potential issue came out after Cro Cop publicly announced his retirement and pulled out of a fight on Saturday's UFC Fight Night 79 event, though USADA contends their inquiry began prior to his retirement.

"Filipovic, 41, admitted to the use, attempted use, and possession of human growth hormone ('hGH') following an out-of-competition test conducted on November 4, 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia," USADA wrote in a statement. "On the day he was tested, prior to any results being reported, Filipovic contacted the UFC to advise them that he had been using hGH in violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Thereafter, on November 9, 2015, Filipovic admitted to USADA as well that he had been using the prohibited substance.

"Human growth hormone is a Prohibited Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors and Related Substances under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Due to Filipovic’s prompt admission of his anti-doping policy violations, he avoided the imposition of a four-year sanction, as permitted under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy where aggravating circumstances are present."

Added USADA CEO Travis Tygart, "“Ultimately, our goals are to keep the Octagon clean and to protect the rights of clean athletes within the UFC. Not only do athletes need to consider their health and safety when it comes to the use of prohibited substances, but also the damage that such use can inflict on their own legacy."

The UFC released a statement of their own in recognition of USADA's determination:
"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."

Penick's Analysis: This is an expected development. Cro Cop flat out admitting he used HGH meant that a suspension was coming, not that it means much with him already retiring, but it certainly makes him stick to that retirement. At least for the next two years. It's an unfortunate cap to his career, but it really isn't all that surprising.


DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Michael Bisping takes another shot at Anderson Silva after passing random USADA drug test
B.J. Penn responds to sexual assault allegations, claims extortion from accusers
Kevin Lee vs. Efrain Escudero, Danny Roberts vs. Dominique Steele join UFC 197 card in Las Vegas

comments powered by Disqus
HERE ARE EVEN MORE ARTICLES THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU

SELECT ARTICLES BY CATEGORY
SEARCH MMATORCH BY KEYWORD


MMATORCH CALENDAR OF EVENTS
CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING MMA EVENTS
CLICK TO SEE A UFC VIDEO BELOW

ARTICLES OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE
MMATORCH POLL - VOTE NOW!

Will T.J. Dillashaw and Urijah Faber eventually fight?
 
pollcode.com free polls

Do you think Daniel Cormier will defeat returning Jon Jones to legitimize UFC Light Heavyweight Title reign?
 
pollcode.com free polls

VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS

MMATORCH WEEKLY LIVECAST
Listen to the weekly MMATORCH LIVECAST on Blog Talk Radio


MMATORCH STAFF

EDITORS:

Wade Keller, supervising editor
(mmatorch@gmail.com)

Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:

Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey


Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.

MORE MMA SITES
CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPWINDOWS APPRSS
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY