Joilton Lutterbach handed two-year suspension for doping violation, released from UFC contract for failing drug test
Joilton Lutterbach has received a 24-month suspension after his doping violation. Additionally, 'Peregrino' has been released from the UFC in the wake of his failed drug test.
Born in Campina Grande, Brazil, and representing Brazil and Germany, Lutterbach (38-9-1 MMA) had recently signed with the UFC. He was to face Shara Magomedov in a short-notice middleweight bout at UFC Saudi Arabia in June. However, on June 20, Lutterbach was replaced by Antonio Trocoli, whom Magomedov defeated via third-round TKO at the event.
Taking to Instagram, Lutterbach asserted that he was off the card because of a doping violation after a banned substance was found in his urine.
Per the UFC's statement on its official website, its drug-testing partner CSAD (Combat Sports Anti-Doping) has announced that Joilton Lutterbach was in violation of the UFC's ADP (Anti-Doping Program) and has agreed to a two-year suspension.
Lutterbach signed a bout agreement in May to make his promotional debut against Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia. The DFSI (Drug Free Sport International), which looks after the UFC ADP's biological sample collection and shipping aspect, conducted an out-of-competition test. They procured a urine sample from Lutterbach in Dusseldorf, Germany, on June 8.
Apparently, the DFSI requested expedited analysis of the sample so that the results could be available before the fight. UFC personnel subsequently notified Lutterbach of his failed test at the fighter hotel in Saudi Arabia on June 20. He'd tested positive for '3a-Hydroxy-2a-methyl-5a-androstan-17-one', which is a metabolite of the banned PED drostanolone.
Joilton Lutterbach then admitted that he'd extensively used the anabolic steroid drostanolone in the months before his UFC signing. However, he hadn't mentioned his use of the substance in his declaration form during his UFC onboarding process.
Per the UFC's rules, athletes need to declare any banned substance they've used in the past 12-month period while signing. Based on the substance and its amounts previously used, if deemed necessary, the athlete is prohibited from competing for a 180-day (six-month) period and must provide a minimum of two negative test results.
If Lutterbach had mentioned his use of the drug in his declaration form, it'd have been deemed that he hadn't committed a violation. Since he failed to do so, CSAD has suspended him for two years (June 23, 2024, to June 23, 2026).
Furthermore, after Lutterbach's failed drug test and admission of guilt, the UFC immediately terminated his deal.
Joilton Lutterbach addressed his UFC doping violation
Joilton Lutterbach put forth a couple of Instagram posts acknowledging his past steroid use and seemingly predicting that he'll return to the UFC.
In one post, he expressed his gratitude for those supporting him during the difficult phase he's going through. The 31-year-old suggested that some fighters who use banned substances generally hide in the mountains or in Thailand.
The former TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) Brazil combatant highlighted that he believed his system was clean and he was ready to fight, so he chose to undergo the tests. Apologizing to the UFC and middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov, Joilton Lutterbach signaled that he'll reemerge from the debacle triumphantly.
Furthermore, he implied that his UFC signing was unexpected. An excerpt from Lutterbach's statement read:
"I actually used juice 3 months ago and had no idea that I would sign with the @ufc."