TJ Dillashaw: Cody Garbrandt slams old team-mate over drug ban - 'scum bag'
TJ DILLASHAW’s old team-mate Cody Garbrandt has given his thoughts on the former UFC champion’s suspension from mixed martial arts.
On Tuesday night, the United States Anti-Doping agency announced Dillashaw - the former UFC men's bantamweight champion - had accepted a two-year suspension for a failed drug test ahead of his men’s flyweight title fight with Henry Cejudo last January.
Dillashaw tested positive for the recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), which is more commonly known as EPO.
USADA subsequently tested a previous sample from the 33-year-old, which also came back positive for the performance-enhancing drug.
Dillashaw’s period of ineligibility began on January 18, meaning he’s free to return to the cage in January 2021.
The fan-favourite’s doping violation came as a huge surprise to many, but not to Gabrandt, who accused his old Team Alpha Male colleague of taking EPO last April.
Garbrandt - who suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Dillashaw in November 2017 and August 2018 - gave his thoughts on the matter in a series of tweets and didn’t hold back on his old comrade’s doping infringement.
He said: “Test all his samples I bet for a fact more EPO pops up, @TJDillashaw is a coward.
“TJ call me when that suspension is up! Scum bag.
TJ Dillashaw is a coward
“All of my losses are from fighters that have popped for PEDs @ufc @usantidoping I can stand behind this when I say I’ll always be a drug free athlete, #1 reason is the believe I have in myself. #2 I respect the game 100%.
"Twitter rant over y’all have a good day.”
He later added: “Can’t wait to see who he blames for sticking the needles in him lol where’s bang at?”
Despite the fact his losses have come against fighters who have fallen afoul of USADA’s anti-doping program, Garbrandt isn’t blaming his setbacks solely on PEDS.
He said: “Let’s make this clear I’m not saying my losses are a direct result of PED convicted fighters. I also fought like a dumb a**.”
Dillashaw has yet to release a statement on his suspension, which will more than likely rob him of his prime years in the sport.
He vacated the 135lbs title not long after USADA notified him of his infringement and the vacant title will be contested for in the main event of UFC 238, which will see Cejudo take on the in-form Marlon Moraes.
The UFC's next event takes place early on Sunday morning and will see Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier vie for the interim lightweight title in the main event of UFC 236.