Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has been suspended for two years after testing positive for steroids back in April.
The 41-year-old Werdum had tested positive for the banned steroid trenbolone and it’s metabolite epitrenbolone during an out-of-competition urine test on April 26th.
Werdum had previously described the positive test as “a misunderstanding” and had been working with the UFC and USADA to find the source of the banned substance, but it appears that did not lead to a discovery that could keep him from being slapped with a lengthy suspension that will keep him out until May 22nd, 2020.
Prior to his positive test Werdum had suffered a fourth round knockout loss against Alexander Volkov back in March in London, which ended a two-fight winning streak against Walt Harris and Marcin Tybura.
The Brazilian star had been lined up to face Aleksei Oliynyk in the main event of UFC Fight Night 136 in Russia this weekend, but was pulled from the show after it first emerged that he’d tested positive for steroids, and Mark Hunt has since taken his place instead.
So far Werdum has not commented on his suspension, which will end just two months shy of his 43rd birthday.
