Gleison Tibau suspended for potential anti-doping violation

Veteran UFC lightweight Gleison Tibau has been provisionally suspended due to a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

UFC officials announced the suspension on Friday.

"The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has notified both Gleison Tibau and UFC that he has been provisionally suspended due to a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition test," UFC officials said in a press release.

USADA will handle the case involving Tibau, including any official word on the substances he may have used and the subsequent suspension he could face for the violation.

Tibau becomes the second fighter in the past few weeks to return a potential positive result from a test administered by USADA.

Just recently, heavyweight fighter Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic was suspended two years after admitting to using human growth hormone ahead of his fight scheduled for South Korea before he dropped out of the contest due to injury.

There's no word on what substance Tibau allegedly used, but he has been suspended pending the full results being released in the coming weeks.

Tibau could be staring down a similar two-year suspension if he's found guilty or based on “aggravated circumstances,” USADA could hand down up to a four-year suspension for a first offense.

Tibau most recently competed at UFC Fight Night in Brazil this past November where he defeated Abel Trujillo by rear-naked choke in the first round.