Volkan Oezdemir announces 16-month suspension for EPO
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Former UFC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir revealed Friday that he failed an out-of-competition drug test for EPO and will serve a 16-month suspension.
The Swiss fighter posted a statement on Instagram disclosing the February positive test before the UFC or Combat Sports Anti-Doping issued any public comment. According to Sherdog, CSAD reduced his suspension from the standard 18 months or longer because of his cooperation. The UFC and CSAD told MMA Junkie they worked with the World Anti-Doping Agency to review the case.
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How Oezdemir says the violation occurred
In a detailed statement posted in both French and English, the 36-year-old said a healthcare professional contacted him on Instagram after a December fight in Qatar, offering business opportunities and patronage before shifting the conversation to his recovery from ankle surgery. The individual presented him with a vial of EPO, describing it as safe and undetectable. Oezdemir wrote that he administered the first injection himself that evening. Three days later, CSAD testers arrived at his home.
"In that moment, the illusion was shattered, and my reality changed. But in a way, it was also a relief," Oezdemir wrote. "I decided to tell the UFC everything. I cooperated immediately."
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The 205-pounder acknowledged full responsibility for the violation and framed the disclosure as a warning to other fighters. "Today, I want to say to every athlete — especially those competing in individual sports — that isolation is a risk," he wrote in the statement. His suspension runs from the February test date, meaning he can return to competition in mid-2027.
Photo: MMAnytt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Original reporting:
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