The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has suspended former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum for two years for a failed drug test administered on April 25.
USADA announced the two-year sanction on Tuesday. Werdum, 41, will not be eligible to compete in the UFC until May 2020.
The Brazilian tested positive for Trenbolone, an anabolic steroid, and its metabolite Epitrenbolone. The out-of-competition test marked the first failed drug test of his career.
Werdum (23-8-1) was prepared to face Alexey Oleinik at a UFC Fight Night event this weekend. The UFC booked Oleinik a different opponent when Werdum’s failed test was revealed.
It’s a major blow to the veteran heavyweight, who lost his UFC title in a first-round knockout to Stipe Miocic in May 2016. Werdum had been attempting to work his way back into title contention.