With the black belt divisions of the IBJJF 2017 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships just over a week away, we take a look at the notable names who – for various reasons – won’t be competing this year. 

Rafael Mendes

Just over one week before the IBJJF 2017 World Championships, Mendes announced what appears to be retirement from competition. The message wasn’t completely clear, leaving the door open for a potential return, but the sentiment left no doubts that Mendes feel he has nothing left to prove. 

Read: Rafael Mendes Won't Compete IBJJF Worlds 'I've Got Nothing Left To Prove'

Paulo Miyao

As we reported, Paulo Miyao is serving a two-year suspension for a doping violation relating to the 2016 World Championships, as is….

Leo Nogueira

The Alliance black belt lost his gold medal from the 2016 Worlds after testing positive for clomiphene, the same substance Miyao tested positive for. Both were stripped of their results and handed two-year bans. 

Read: Details Of Paulo Miyao's Doping Violation: Substance, Punishment Now Known
Read: 2016 World Champion Leo Nogueira Fails Doping Test, Stripped Of Medal

Claudio Calasans

Another Atos power player to miss Worlds this year is Claudio Calasans. He took gold at the Abu Dhabi World Pro just last month and a silver in the absolute division at the Europeans in January, but will pass on the 2017 Worlds to rest and work on recovering some injuries. His sights are obviously on his ADCC superfight in September, an important match worth $40,000. 

JT Torres

Following a cross-country move from San Diego to his hometown of New York, JT Torres has relocated to the East Coast and is busy establishing his newly-opened gym Essential BJJ in Westchester. That makes him the third major Atos name to miss Worlds, but he’s not the last. 

Keenan Cornelius

Technical wizard Cornelius suffered a serious knee injury at a tournament in Japan in April, and the severity of the incident means that he has had to miss Worlds.

Ricardo Evangelista

The GF Team ultra heavyweight has not been given release from his work contract in the United Arab Emirates to compete in the IBJJF Worlds. Evangelista is employed to train military personnel in the Arab nation.

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