Israel Adesanya has sparked speculation about Paulo Costa’s use of drugs after he questioned the Brazilian’s rapid recovery from a bicep injury.
Adesanya beat Rob Whittaker in October 2019 to take the UFC middleweight championship.
He’ll make his first title defence on March 7 in Las Vegas.
But while the venue and date have long been set in stone, ‘Stylebender’ has not been so sure of his opponent.
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🤜🏻💚🤛🏾 “Spoke some things into the universe and they appear!” – @nipseyhussle #AttainPeace 🕊
Confusion
The Nigerian-New Zealander was originally set to defend his title against the undefeated Paulo Costa at UFC 248.
But the Brazilian then announced he required surgery for a torn bicep and would be out of action for up to nine months.
As a result Adesanya turned his attention to Yoel Romero, and a clash between the two seemed all but confirmed.
Costa then threw another spanner in the works, reportedly still being a possibility for the fight.
Although Romero now looks his confirmed opponent, that hasn’t stopped Adesanya from questioning the miraculous recovery time of Costa.
In a video posted to Twitter, Adesanya said: “I want to know something,”
“How do you get over a nine-month possible bicep injury in three months?”
How Sway?! pic.twitter.com/6jL6SVFWHC
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) January 16, 2020
Suspicion
Fans reacted to the video on Twitter with an array of witty responses and gifs, all suggesting the use of PEDs in Costa’s reported rapid recovery.
— 6SIX6 (@matrepsesat) January 16, 2020
— Kal (@KKD_113) January 16, 2020
— عبدالله المسند (@AbdullAlMisnad) January 16, 2020
Implication
Stylebender has alluded to Costa’s drug use before.
In April 2019, Adesanya said on an episode of The MMA Hour: “First of all, didn’t he get popped for something recently for some acai in his stomach or something?”
“I just wanna get him before USADA gets him.”
USADA ultimately banned the Brazilian for six-months for receiving prohibited IV infusions.
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Accusation
It’s not the first time Adesanya has called out a rival for using drugs.
The 30-year-old recently called out Jon Jones as a ‘drug cheat’ in a separate Twitter video.
“People are gonna remember you ’cause you’re a drug cheat. You’re a steroid cheat,” Stylebender ranted.
“That’s what they’re gonna remember.”
“All the sh*t you’ve done, no one really cares anymore ‘cause they know you cheated.”
“That’s all they’re gonna remember”
(Featured image source: Instagram/ Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa)