The UFC announced Wednesday that it has been notified of a potential USADA violation by Ultimate Fighter 25 winner Jesse Taylor. The promotion released a statement regarding the violation, stemming from an out-of-competition screening, early Wednesday afternoon. Taylor (31–15) won TUF 25 when he defeated Dhiego Lima at the show’s finale in July this year. He had been scheduled to face Belal Muhammad at UFC Sydney.
As is the usual procedure for such notifications, neither the promotion nor USADA has disclosed the substance Taylor tested positive for.
Per the UFC’s statement,
The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Jesse Taylor of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on August 22, 2017. Because of the proximity to Taylor’s upcoming scheduled bout in Sydney, Australia on November 18, 2017, against Belal Muhammad, Taylor has been removed from the card and the UFC is currently seeking a replacement.
Taylor, a.k.a. JT Money, capped off a great comeback story by winning TUF 25, subtitled “Redemption.” In his original shot at the UFC, Taylor was kicked off season seven of the show after drunkenly kicking out the window of a limo. He would eventually get a single shot at the UFC, losing to C.B. Dollaway at UFC Fight Night 14 in 2008. He’d then become a staple in the regional scene, as well as fighting for larger promotions like WSOF and KSW. That saw him earn his way back to the UFC.
Taylor has yet to comment on he matter.
