Mirko Filipovic Mirko Filipovic had the dubious honor of becoming the first UFC fighter to be flagged for a potential U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation, but the MMA legend is maintaining the situation is a bit more complicated than it seems. As MMAjunkie reported on Wednesday, the UFC heavyweight was “provisionally suspended” due to a “potential Anti-Doping Policy violation” – one day after “Cro Cop” announced his retirement from the sport and his withdrawal from a UFC Fight Night 79 co-headliner later this month – though details of the violation weren’t disclosed. However, in a statement subsequently posted on his official website, mirkofilipovic.com , the Croatian vet admits to using “a little mix of growth hormone.” The 41-year-old maintains it was in an effort to speed up the recovery of a shoulder injury, that he felt he had no other choices, and that “a desperate man will try anything.” “Growth hormones are on the list of banned substances,” he wrote. “I knew that already. But there was no other way to save my shoulder – at least in my mind – without combining the blood plasma with growth hormones.” Filipovic (31-11-2 MMA, 5-6 UFC) said he admitted to using growth hormone, but only after USADA officials came to test him.
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‘Cro Cop’ maintains retirement was due to injuries, admits to using growth hormone – MMA Junkie