USADA announced today that Mica Galvao, the 2022 IBJJF World Champion, has been stripped of his title due to a violation of PED rules. Galvao has also accepted a one-year suspension for his actions.
Galvao’s positive test was attributed to clomiphene, a prohibited agent, which was found in his system during a test conducted after his victory at the Worlds. Upon investigation, USADA discovered that the violation was due to a prescribed med, which Galvao failed to properly request a therapeutic use exemption for.
As a result, Galvao, who made history by becoming the youngest-ever IBJJF World Champion in 2022, has been stripped of his title. The lightweight silver medalist, Tye Ruotolo, is expected to receive the gold medal.
If Ruotolo is awarded the gold medal, he will become the youngest IBJJF world champion in history, following IBJJF precedent.
Galvao’s suspension began on July 22, and he will be eligible to compete in IBJJF competitions again in late July of this year, after the 2023 IBJJF World Championships.
This comes just a month after B Team’s Craig Jones revealed that a high profile youngster was in negotiations with USADA.
It looks like Galvao managed to get a good deal in mediation as well, possibly aided by the fact this was his first infraction.
Galvao is the 6th BJJ competitor to receive a suspension this year. USADA and IBJJF suspended five IBJJF Nogi Worlds winners for PED use, including Igor Nascimento da Costa Feliz, Jonnatas Gracie, Roberto ‘Cyborg’ de Abreu Filho, Henrique Ceconi, and Vagner S. Rocha.
Rocha refused to submit to sample collection, while Cyborg was absent from the podium, and Ceconi has not said anything.
Suspensions ranged from three years, starting from the date of provisional suspension, for all athletes who tested positive for various PEDs.
