LAS VEGAS – UFC heavyweight Carlos Felipe has been suspended 18 months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Felipe (11-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) tested positive for boldenone, an anabolic steroid, following his October fight with Andrei Arlovski at UFC Fight Night 195, which the Brazilian lost via decision.
The suspension was issued at Tuesday’s monthly commission meeting at the Nevada State Business Center. As part of the adjudication agreement, Felipe is eligible to return to action on April 16, 2023 and must pay a fine of $4,200, or 15 percent of his $28,000 purse, as well as attorney’s fees of $489.
Additionally, prior to his next fight in Nevada, Felipe must submit to drug testing 30 days, 15 days and 3 days ahead of the contest.
Felipe’s manager, Tiago Okamura, told MMA Fighting that his client maintains his innocence but did not want to commit the financial resources needed to contest the case, which he anticipated would be around $10,000.
Felipe was previously suspended for two years in 2017 by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for metabolites of stanozolol, a steroid, prior to his planned promotional debut. A second suspension from the UFC’s official anti-doping partner could carry a four-year suspension.
A request for comment from USADA by MMA Junkie was not immediately returned.
Additionally, Georgian bantamweight Zviad Lazishvili was suspended nine months by the NSAC for a failed test associated with his October 23 loss to Jonathan Martinez at UFC Fight Night 196. Lazishvili tested positive for clomiphene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator.
Lazishvili was also fined $1,800, or 15 percent of his $12,000 purse, and must pay attorney’s fees of $326. As part of the adjudication agreement, he is eligible to compete again on July 23 and must submit to drug testing 30 days, 15 days and 3 days ahead of the contest.
