Junior Dos Santos pulled from UFC 215 due to potential doping violation

Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos has been pulled from his upcoming fight at UFC 215 after being notified of a potential doping violation by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency).

UFC officials announced the move on Friday.

“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Junior Dos Santos of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on Aug. 10, 2017,” UFC officials wrote in a statement. “Because of the proximity to Dos Santos’ upcoming scheduled bout at UFC 215 in Edmonton, Canada against Francis Ngannou, Dos Santos has been removed from the card and the UFC is currently seeking a replacement.”

USADA is unable to provide any additional information on what substance was found in Dos Santos’ sample unless the fighter discloses it publicly before an adjudication process can take place.

All fighters are afforded the opportunity to an adjudication process before any potential punishment is handed down as a result of a positive drug test.

Dos Santos was making his return to action following a first round knockout loss to current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in his last fight from May.

FRANCIS NGANNOU NOT HAPPY ABOUT JUNIOR DOS SANTOS BEING PULLED FROM UFC 215

Following news that Dos Santos was being pulled from the card, Ngannou reacted on Twitter, obviously upset that he’s just over two weeks away from UFC 215 and now stands without an opponent.

I'm very very angry!!!

Almost done with training camp and they just announced that my opponent is out for #ufc215

— Francis NGannou (@francis_ngannou) August 18, 2017