The former UFC heavyweight champion tested positive for the anabolic steroid trenbolone and its metabolite epitrenbolone in a urine screening conducted by USADA. Werdum’s two-year sanction is retroactive to May 22, the date his provisional suspension began.
Werdum had been expected to face Alexey Oleynik in the UFC Fight Night Moscow headliner before his failed drug test. Instead, Mark Hunt will square off against Oleynik in the promotion’s Russian debut on Saturday.
The 41-year-old known as “Vai Cavalo” last appeared at UFC Fight Night 127, where he suffered a fourth-round knockout loss to Alexander Volkov on March 17. Werdum is 14-6 during his promotional tenure and 23-8-1 as a professional overall.