UFC News 2015: Cro Cop Gets Tagged for Doping Violation
Various news outlets reported about the decision of UFC heavyweight star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic to walk away from the sport after a brilliant and colorful career. The fighter said that he decided to hang it up because of a series of injuries including a shoulder issue that bothered him during his training for an upcoming fight card in Korea.
But it turns out there is more to the retirement than what he's telling people. The alleged injury is an acceptable and expected reason for a fighter who has reached father time. But a recent announcement from the UFC is saying that Cro Cop actually failed a drug test.
Via press release, the UFC said that the fighter from Croatia has been "provisionally suspended" based on a USADA notification stating some form of an Anti-Doping Policy violation. The press release further said, "USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Cro Cop. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time in the process."
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There will certainly be consequences based on this development, but it is still unclear how it will affect Filipovic, who everyone knows just announced his retirement several days ago. The only thing that is sure right now is that his bout against Anthony Hamilton at UFC Fight Night in Korea is officially canceled.
In the same statement, promotion officials said that Hamilton will be provided a fight card at a later date, and of course with a new opponent.
The news of another fighter penalized for drug or substance abuse is another blow to the Las Vegas-based fight promotion. The UFC is trying to build a campaign against doping and substance abuse in the past couple of years hoping to clean the house and get rid of fighters who are getting obvious physical advantages with performance enhancing drugs and substances.
