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Cro Cop

The story behind Mirko “Cro-Cop” Filipović’s recent retirement from MMA has taken another turn after the UFC announced that the Croatian violated the Anti-Doping Policy of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Cro Cop was scheduled to face Anthony Hamilton at UFC Seoul, in South Korea on November 28, however the PRIDE FC legend announced his official retirement from the sport, consequently withdrawing from the fight.

Filipović gave an official statement on his website as to his retirement, claiming a severe shoulder injury which could not be cured through: ‘daily therapy, injections of blood plasma and various cocktails of drugs.’

However, the UFC released an official statement on the Mirko Cro Cop situation in the early hours on this morning:

“UFC announced today that a scheduled bout between Mirko Cro Cop and Anthony Hamilton in Seoul, South Korea has been canceled. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has notified both Mirko Cro Cop and UFC that he has been provisionally suspended at this time due to a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation.

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.

Hamilton will be booked for a new bout on a card in the near future.”

In light of this, should the claims follow through by the USADA, Cro Cop will become the first fighter to fail under the newly instituted UFC Anti-Doping Policy.