After a potential doping violation pulled him out of a UFC Fight Night 128 appointment, bantamweight Augusto Mendes is affirming his “total innocence” in the situation.

Mendes (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was set to meet Merab Dvalishvili (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on April 21, but on Wednesday the UFC announced he’d been flagged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for a potential violation. According to the statement, it stemmed from an out-of-competition sample collected on March 7.

Today, Mendes took to social media to thank his fans, apologize to his opponent for his absence in the scheduled fight and to vehemently express that there was no wrong-doing on his end. (via Instagram🙂

Mendes, who faced an almost one-year gap between his short-notice UFC debut and his second octagon appearance due to a knee injury, went on to say he was aware of what a suspension would mean for his career and “I would never make this mistake to myself.”

The fight with Dvalishvili would have been the grappling ace’s fourth UFC appearance, after a 1-2 mark to start his UFC run. He hasn’t fought since last April, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Aljamain Sterling. “Tanquinho” was supposed to have returned last October, at UFC Fight Night 119, but injury caused him to withdraw.

The 35-year-old Brazilian bantamweight was undefeated before joining the UFC. He started his professional MMA run in 2014, after a highly decorated career in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Check out Mendes’ full post below:

“This past Wednesday March 20th in the afternoon I was surprised with a notification from USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), informing me of a potential violation to their doping regulations on a test presented on March 7th of this month.

In my 20 years of martial arts, I have never used any substance that would enhance my performance. With this being said, I am shocked and express my total innocence on this situation. I put myself 100% in the governing entity disposition to clarify this case as fast as possible under all regulations.
In the past months I have not changed my supplement routine. I am always respectful of all regulations presented by USADA. I have been tested 7 times in the past year and have passed all with no problems or worries. Because of my professionalism and personal character I respect the work done by USADA in pro of all MMA fighters and their legitimacy to fight. I will incur in all means necessary and possible that will allow me prove my innocence in this case.

I live the glories and feel the bitter taste of defeat that this sport brings.
In 2016, due to a left knee injury I was forced to sit on the sidelines of all sport activity for a whole year. I know and dislike what a doping sanction can do for my career. I would never make this mistake to myself. For all this I have been pulled out of my fight with Mareb Dvalishvili scheduled for UFC Fight Night 128 on April 21st.

I would like to thank all of my fans who are sending me through social media all sort of words of love, encouragement , trust and confidence that all this will be settled in my favor.

To my fans, friends, training partners, to the UFC and Mareb Dvalishvili, I would like to apologize for my absence in the programmed fight and I am confident that a new adversary will be found so you can all have a great fight. I will see you all soon in the octagon. Thank you”

For more on UFC Fight Night 128, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.