Antonio Trocoli‘s UFC stint lasted about three weeks.
The Brazilian light heavyweight fighter earned a UFC contract with a first-round submission victory on Dana White’s Contender Series on July 9 in Las Vegas. But White announced Tuesday night on the show that Trocoli would be cut due to a failed drug test. UFC officials confirmed Trocoli’s release to ESPN on Wednesday.
“We’re going to release him,” White said. “He shouldn’t be using anywhere for any reason.”
Brazilian outlet Combate was the first to report the news Tuesday that Trocoli tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone in an in-competition test related to his Contender Series bout with Kenneth Bergh.
The test was administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Trocoli is facing a suspension, fine and his win getting overturned to a no contest.
A representative from Trocoli’s team told MMA Fighting that the fighter will have his supplements tested for a possible contamination.
Trocoli (11-3) looked very impressive in beating Bergh with a neck crank at 3:57 of the first round. Trocoli, 28, broke his left foot early in the fight and had huge swelling on it, but fought through the injury.
The lanky, 6-foot-5 fighter was on a three-fight winning streak after having dropped three in a row in lighter weight classes.