Ex-title challenger Volkan Oezdemir announces failed drug test for EPO

Volkan Oezdemir, the former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, revealed on Friday that he tested positive for EPO in February and has received a 16-month suspension from competition. The Swiss athlete announced the news himself via Instagram before any official UFC or Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) statement, taking full responsibility for the violation.

Oezdemir detailed how the situation unfolded. After competing in Qatar at the end of 2025, he was contacted via Instagram by a Swiss healthcare professional who initially discussed business opportunities and post-retirement prospects. Later, when Oezdemir was recovering from ankle surgery, the same person approached him with a plan to restore his peak physical condition within two months, providing him with a vial of EPO that he described as safe and undetectable. Oezdemir administered the first injection himself that evening.

Three days later, CSAD conducted an out-of-competition test at his home. On March 5, he learned the result was positive. Oezdemir immediately cooperated with both the UFC and CSAD, which led to CSAD reducing his suspension from an initial 18 months or longer to 16 months due to his cooperation and mitigating circumstances—chiefly that a healthcare professional had initiated the scheme and provided the substance at no cost.

In his statement, Oezdemir acknowledged his isolation as an athlete had become a weakness, allowing him to handle the situation alone rather than seek counsel. He expressed remorse to his sport, fans, and supporters, hoping his experience would warn other athletes about the dangers of isolation and the importance of verifying what enters their bodies. The 36-year-old will be ineligible to compete until late 2027. Since 2022, Oezdemir has struggled with consistency in the octagon, managing only one victory and recording multiple draws, including a split draw against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev.