UFC middleweight star Kelvin Gastelum has been pulled from his upcoming fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 212 after testing positive for marijuana metabolites.
According to the UFC, Gastelum tested over the limit of 180 ng/mL for marujuana metabolites during an in-competition test for his recent TKO victory over Vitor Belfort at UFC Fight Night 106 on March 11th.
Gastelum has now been put on temporary suspension pending a full hearing, and as such the UFC have decided to remove him from his upcoming fight with Silva and are now looking for a suitable replacement opponent.
The news is a real blow for the 25-year-old Gastelum, who has been gaining major traction in the UFC’s middleweight division of late with his wins over Tim Kennedy and Belfort, following on from a catchweight victory over Johny Hendricks.
That had led to him climbing up to No.8 on the UFC’s official middleweight rankings and afforded him an opportunity to fight another legend in Anderson Silva, but now he’s been removed from the rankings and faces the potential of being suspended for up to a year, taking some of the wind out of his sails.
At this stage there is no word on who Silva may fight instead at UFC 212 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on June 3rd.
