TJ Dillashaw ‘took drugs ban on chin and handled it like a man’, insists Dana White ahead of UFC 280
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TJ Dillashaw ‘took a two-year drug ban on the chin and treated it like a man’, Dana White urges US bantamweight title to be shot at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi
- TJ Dillashaw Received Two Year Ban After Being Caught Doping By USADA
- He has since admitted his guilt and speaks of the situation with remorse
- Dillashaw bounced back to winning ways and has a title shot on Saturday
- Dana White praised the American for handling positive tests
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Dana White has praised TJ Dillashaw for the way he handled his drug ban and admitted guilt and regret.
The UFC president claims there are plenty of fighters who will vehemently deny they did anything wrong, despite USADA catching them on performance-enhancing drugs, contrary to Dillashaw’s honesty.
“First of all, the guy is probably, and I don’t know for a fact, but I assume he’s one of the most tested guys in the business right now,” White recently told Barstool Sports.
TJ Dillashaw was banned for two years for using performance-enhancing drugs
“USADA is probably all over him. But I think he made a mistake, and he treated it like a man.
“Let me tell you something: we’ve had a lot of guys in the history of this company who got busted for steroids and treated exactly the opposite way.
“They didn’t treat it like men. Dillashaw did it. He took it on the chin. You have to respect him for that.’
Dillashaw was banned from competition for two years before returning earlier this year to defeat Corey Sandhagen, earning him a title shot at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.
He claimed he was taking performance-enhancing drugs to help him save weight rather than making any difference in the octagon.
Dana White has credited the American for handling his failed test and ban
But Dillashaw generally took responsibility for his actions: “It’s hard to hold a grudge because I did it,” he told MMA Junkie during his suspension.
‘I made the mistake. I soiled my name myself. It’s not someone else’s. I fueled them. It hurts, but that’s part of the payment – part of the payment for how I sullied my name. I have to live with it now.
“Trying to hold onto that grudge is like holding onto the past. I’m already further.’
White and Dillashaw may have moved on, but if he beats Sterling for the bantamweight title this weekend, things won’t look very good for the UFC.
He comes in as the marginally betting underdog, but there’s no doubt he could raise his hand on Saturday night. Whether he can change fans’ perception of him is another question.
Dillashaw was banned for two years but defeated Corey Sandhagen on his return