Antonio Rogerio Nogueira pulled from upcoming fight due to potential doping violation

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been flagged by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for a potential doping violation and the veteran light heavyweight has been pulled from his upcoming bout against Jared Cannonier in December.

UFC officials released a statement on Thursday confirming the news.

“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Antonio Rogerio Nogueira of a potential anti-doping policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on September 27, 2017,” UFC officials said in the statement.

“Due to the proximity of Nogueira’s upcoming scheduled bout at UFC Fight Night: Lawler vs. dos Anjos in Winnipeg, Canada on December 16, 2017 against Jared Cannonier, Nogueira has been removed from the card and the UFC is currently seeking a replacement.”

USADA is unable to confirm the substance found from the positive drug test until either the athlete reveals that information or after the adjudication process has been completed.

Cannonier will now await word on a replacement opponent after Nogueira was pulled from the card.

The fight that was originally scheduled was Nogueira’s first in the past year after suffering a knockout loss to Ryan Bader in 2016. Nogueira has gone just 1-3 over his past four bouts in the UFC.