TJ Dillashaw is no longer the UFC bantamweight champion.
Dillashaw (16-4) announced Wednesday morning that he is “voluntarily relinquishing” the UFC’s 135-pound title after he was informed by the New York State Athletic Commission and the United States Anti-Doping Agency of an “adverse finding in a test taken for my last fight.” ESPN confirmed the validity of the statement via multiple sources.
Dillashaw did not reveal any more information. NYSAC and USADA officials were not immediately available for comment.
Dillashaw, 33, will be suspended for a year retroactive to Jan. 19, the date of his last fight, by the NYSAC, sources told ESPN. It’s unclear at this time whether the USADA will suspend him longer. A formal announcement is expected Wednesday morning.
Dillashaw dropped down to flyweight in January to challenge Henry Cejudo for that belt; he lost the fight via TKO in just 32 seconds.
He originally won the bantamweight title at UFC 173 in May 2014 when he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history by defeating then-champion Renan Barao. Dillashaw lost the belt in January 2016, but he regained the title for a second time in November 2017, when he knocked out Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217. He successfully defended the belt in August when he defeated Garbrandt again, before setting his sights on flyweight.