UFC world reacts to ex-champ TJ Dillashaw’s stunning two-year suspension

Just last January TJ Dillashaw was trying to win a second UFC belt in his title fight with Henry Cejudo.

Now he’s suspended for two years after a failing drug test before that fight, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Tuesday. Dillashaw will be eligible to return on January 18, 2021.

It’s been a stunning turn of events in Dillashaw’s career. He lost that flyweight title fight to Cejudo in 30 seconds and then immediately relinquished his bantamweight belt after news of his failed test came out last month.

USADA announced that he tested positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), which basically helps give you an incredible amount of endurance.

UFC VP of athletic health and performance Jeff Novitzy told ESPN after the news broke:

“I’m quite familiar with EPO from my days investigating professional cycling teams,” UFC vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky told ESPN. “It’s a very effective substance. It’s not a substance you find in contaminated supplements; it’s injectable only. You have to know what you’re doing when it enters your system.

“On a scale of seriousness in anti-doping, it’s up near the top.”

The news sent shockwaves through the UFC world:

No comment yet from TJ Dillashaw's team. Obviously, a devastating blow to his legacy. We're living in a time where it seems like new information about contamination and "pulsing" surfaces every day, but EPO is a pretty damning thing to test positive for.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 9, 2019

Here’s the full USADA press release on TJ Dillashaw’s two-year suspension for EPO. Dillashaw isn’t contesting it. He is eligible to return on Jan. 19, 2021. pic.twitter.com/bYcQY3sdMq

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 9, 2019

More details on TJ Dillashaw. On the surface, his legacy as one of the best bantamweights in UFC history takes a huge hit. Gonna be a long 24 months for the former two-time champion. https://t.co/MQefEF82dP

— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) April 9, 2019

TJ Dillashaw has accepted a two-year sanction from USADA. That is a back breaker for his career. Not an ender, but a major blow.

— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) April 9, 2019

I mean, T.J. Dillashaw kept insisting he could drop another ten pounds without his performance suffering as a result. And now he's been popped for EPO. That's some walking like a duck, talking like a duck stuff right there. https://t.co/odTNwgg10E

— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) April 9, 2019

TJ Dillashaw has accepted a TWO YEAR sanction from USADA

Turns out he tested positive for EPO.
Wow! Pretty damning.

EPO is the gear Lance Armstrong was on. It’s overall effect is to increase endurance.

No wonder TJ could keep going like a Duracell bunny!

— Adam Catterall (@AdamCatterall) April 9, 2019

TJ Dillashaw is only the second positive EPO test of the USADA era.

Gleison Tibau, which was the 2nd positive test of the USADA era, was the other

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 9, 2019

Have to feel for @Cody_Nolove who's career was at it's peak and a drugged up TJ Dillashaw took away his mojo when he repeatedly told @ufc TJ was teaching his whole team how to do it without getting caught.

Pretty bad look for the sport.

— Ryan (@WheelerLeafs) April 9, 2019

Cody Garbrandt and Urijah Faber when they found out TJ Dillashaw is suspended for two years by USADA: pic.twitter.com/7qfRUk5nBU

— €papitu (@PapituSheh) April 9, 2019

Dillashaw caught with EPO in his system, no wonder his cardio was through the roof, fighters should be banned for life when caught with PED’s #TJDillashaw

— Michael McMahon (@MichaelMcM_98) April 9, 2019

Pretty disappointed in my favourite UFC fighter @TJDillashaw today.

— ryan 🐇 (@ryanmjb) April 9, 2019

TJ Dillashaw is scum. Later cheater pic.twitter.com/MMef1TqwUi

— Casey (@CaseyJLynn) April 9, 2019

@TJDillashaw is the only person to cheat and STILL LOSE!! And not only that, but LOST TO THE "SMALLER" GUY.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

— Scotti Wade (@WadeScotti) April 9, 2019