Francisco Lo Receives 3-Year Ban
Francisco Lo becomes the latest top BJJ athlete to fail USADA’s drug test. The organization revealed that Lo failed his test after the 2025 Pans Championship.
He was popped for two substances, which included norandrosterone(a metabolite of nandrolone). This positive test comes with a 3-year ban from IBJJF competition.
“Francisco Lo, 24, tested positive for 4α-chloro-17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-18-nor-5α-androstan-13-en-3α-ol, a long-term metabolite of dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT), as well as 19-norandrosterone (19-NA), a metabolite of nandrolone, as the result of an in-competition drug test conducted at the 2025 Pan International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Jiu-Jitsu Championship on March 23, 2025.
Lo’s urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test known as Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS), that unequivocally differentiates between 19-NA naturally produced by the body and 19-NA of synthetic origin.
The IRMS analysis result was consistent with the exogenous origin of 19-NA in Lo’s sample. Although the IBJJF is not a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), USADA was contracted by the IBJJF to conduct testing for the event and collected and analyzed Lo’s sample in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s International Standards.”- USADA. (Full statement)
Other than Francisco Lo, there were also other notable failed tests from Pans, but the names of the athletes haven’t been released yet.
Bobby is martial artist for almost 20 years with a BJJ black belt under Professor Sergio Miranda. He is also a karate black and former combat sports athlete, who loves all things grappling.