Geraldo de Freitas Jr. Receives 2-Year Sanction After USADA Violation

Independent Arbitrator Imposes Two-Year Sanction on Geraldo Augusto de Freitas Junior for UFC Anti-Doping Policy Violation https://t.co/O113PpG3A2

— USADA (@usantidoping) October 13, 2021

If there is any consolation, it is that the 30-year-old Brazilian bantamweight has already competed back in his home country since leaving the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

On Wednesday, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that former UFC bantamweight fighter Geraldo de Freitas Jr. would receive a two-year ban from fighting. The Brazilian failed an out-of-competition drug test collected on Oct. 14, 2020, for the exogenous administration of testosterone. While de Freitas argued during the evidentiary hearings that the test was collected erroneously, an independent arbitrator ultimately dismissed his claims as inconclusive. His period of ineligibility began on Jan. 11, although the UFC let him go in March.

“Geraldo Augusto de Freitas’ urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test, known as Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR) testing, that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin,” read the USADA press release. “The CIR test confirmed the presence of testosterone and/or its precursors of external origin in Augusto de Freitas’ urine sample.”

De Freitas (13-6) debuted in the UFC in 2019 with a victory over Felipe Dias Colares at UFC Fight Night 144, before collecting back-to-back defeats by split decision to Chris Gutierrez and Tony Gravely at UFC Fight Nights 156 and 182, respectively. The promotion then cut ties with the Nova Uniao representative early into 2021. “The Spartan” bounced back on track after submitting Marcos Cordeiro at Shooto Brazil 108 in July, in a move reminiscent of past fighters like Vitor Belfort and Josh Barnett who were suspended in the U.S. and went to compete elsewhere.