Volkan Oezdemir receives 16-month suspension for anti-doping violation

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DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 22: Volkan Oezdemir of Switzerland reacts after a knockout victory against Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Volkan Oezdemir revealed on Friday that he’s been suspended for 16 months after violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy. The veteran light heavyweight took to Instagram to explain what happened but ultimately he says he’s already received his punishment and has no one to blame but himself. UFC officials have not announced Oezdemir’s suspension or the circumstances surrounding his positive drug test. “In February, I tested positive for EPO after following the recommendations of a healthcare professional,” Oezdemir wrote. “As an athlete, I am responsible for everything I put into my body. I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for it. “At the end of 2025, I competed in Qatar. A few days later, I was contacted on Instagram by a healthcare professional based in Switzerland. He introduced himself as a supporter and suggested that we meet. During our first meeting, he told me about his connections with influential people, investment opportunities in one of the Gulf states and potential prospects for my career after retirement from sport. He also mentioned the possibility of patronage. I was 36 years old and thinking about life after my sporting career. So I was interested.” After meeting with this person, Oezdemir took stock in his current status in the UFC as he was looking to bounce back from surgery. That’s when he was presented with a banned substance to help aid in his recovery. “I was recovering from ankle surgery,” Oezdemir said. “The healthcare professional and I met again. The conversation shifted. He no longer talked about business but about my recovery. He presented me with a plan that, according to him, would get me back to peak physical condition within two months. “He showed me a substance that he described as safe and undetectable. He had prepared a vial of EPO. He told me not to tell anyone about it. I complied. I gave myself the first injection that same evening. That was my decision. And it was the biggest mistake of my life.” EPO (erythropoietin) is a drug widely used in endurance sports because it increases red blood cell production, which allows the body to send more oxygen to the muscles and increases stamina and performance. “Three days later, the Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) team came to my home to conduct an anti-doping test,” Oezdemir said. “On March 5, I was informed that my test had come back positive. In that moment, the illusion was shattered and my reality changed. But in a way, it was also a relief. “I decided to tell the UFC everything. I cooperated immediately. I did the same with CSAD. In the end, I received a 16-month suspension in light of my cooperation and the mitigating circumstances. “I acknowledge what I did and I take full responsibility for it. Every athlete is responsible for what they put in their body. I am sharing how this happened because I needed to understand my own actions. And because what happened to me, could happen to other athletes. I let down my sport, my fans and ultimately, myself. To everyone who has supported me, my family, my loved ones and my supporters, I am deeply sorry.” View this post on Instagram While Oezdemir didn’t note when his suspension began, he’s definitely going to be out of action until sometime in 2027 after sitting out for 16 months. A mainstay in the light heavyweight rankings, Oezdemir came up short in his only bid to become champion when he fell to Daniel Cormier back in 2018. More recently, Oezdemir has gone on a 3-1 run in his career with his only loss coming in a decision to current UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg.