The USADA has just announced that Felipe Pena has been stripped of his title as 2021 IBJJF World Champion as a result of him failing a test for PEDs. According to the press release given by the IBJJF, Pena tested positive for Clomiphene and it’s metabolites, a banned substance under their rules. The drug test was conducted on December 12th, during the 2021 edition of the IBJJF world championships where Pena won a bronze medal in the Super-Heavyweight division before winning gold in the absolute division against incredibly tough competition.
As a result of the failed PEDs test, Felipe Pena will not only lose both of the medals that he won at the event but he will also be banned from IBJJF competition for a full year. The ban will actually start retroactively from the date that the failed test was registered, which was January 7th, 2022. Subsequently, Pena will not be able to compete in any IBJJF competition until January 7th, 2023 and he would also have been stripped of any titles earned during that year if he had won any more. While fans of Felipe Pena were undoubtedly eager to see him in action at ADCC 2022 where he enters the same weightclass as his rival Gordon Ryan, they need not worry as the ban will only apply to IBJJF events and the ADCC World Championships does not test for PEDs.
This also means that the $220,000 wager between the two men is still on as Pena will also still be able to compete in the other match involved too. The second match involved in their wager is due to take place under the Who’s Number One banner, another organization that does not test for PEDs and does not need to adhere to any IBJJF sanctions. Given that Felipe Pena has been open about his intention to transition to MMA in the near-future as well, it’s unlikely that the failed PEDs test and subsequent ban is actually going to effect his career at all.
