Vince Murdock Suspended For 20 Months After Positive Drug Test

UFC/Team Alpha Male featherweight Vince Murdock has been suspended by USADA for 20 months following a positive test for GW1516, a SARM.

Murdock said he used pre-USADA.

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Murdock withdrew from his UFC debut (6/29) after posting UFC needed more tests to rule him "medically fit." pic.twitter.com/z0Wkm7oNet

— Michael Fiedel (@MichaelFiedel) September 5, 2019

Prospective Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Vince Murdock has been suspended before ever stepping foot in the cage.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced on Thursday that Murdock tested positive for multiple substances, and accepted a 20-month suspension following those test results. The American tested positive for substances including "GW1516 metabolites GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone." GW1516 is known as a selective androgen receptor modulator, or SARM, in which those substances have a similar effect to anabolic steroids, only without the typical side effects. As he disclosed his use of these substances prior to signing with the UFC and entering the USADA testing pool, the agency reduced his sentence down to what it is now. Murdock will be eligible to compete again March 2021, dating retroactively to his positive test on July 6.

Originally set to make his UFC debut against Jordan Griffin at UFC on ESPN 3 in June, Murdock withdrew on fight week after failing to get medically cleared. It is unclear at this point whether any drug test or the substances he had taken affected his medical clearance, as the positive test came a month after he withdrew.

Team Alpha Male's Murdock won his last fight and punched his ticket to the Las Vegas-based promotion when he knocked out Justin King in December. Prior to that, he competed twice in the Indian promotion Super Fight League, where controversy struck twice. In his meeting against Krishan Rawat, the fight was stopped at the end of the first round due to a doctor stoppage, but the bout was reportedly overturned to a no-contest. The following month, he faced Vikash Dahiya, and was kicked in the groin multiple times. In a fit of rage, Murdock left the cage and was ruled the loser by technical knockout due to retirement. According to Tapology, the All India Mixed Martial Arts Association overturned that result as well, supposedly awarding Murdock a disqualification victory due to "repeated intentional strikes to the groin." In a statement, the AIMMAA stated otherwise, claiming that "we have decided to stay with the decision as announced in the cage," thus confirming the loss for Murdock.

USADA's statement regarding Murdock is as follows:

Murdock, 28, tested positive for GW1516 metabolites GW1516 sulfoxide and GW1516 sulfone as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample collected on July 6, 2019. GW1516, also known as GW501516 and cardarine, is a non-Specified Substance in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

After being notified of his positive test, Murdock came forward with evidence of his use of this prohibited substance before entering the UFC Anti-Doping Program. Based on the specific details of the case, Murdock received a reduction from the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility.

Upon being added to the UFC Anti-Doping Program, athletes are required to declare medications and supplements they have used in the previous 12 months. An athlete who declares the prior use of a prohibited substance will not be deemed to have committed a violation but will be required to refrain from competition for a period of at least 6 months and provide at least two negative samples. Murdock did not declare the use of the prohibited substance on his onboarding declaration form.

Murdock’s 20-month period of ineligibility began on July 6, 2019, the date his positive sample was collected.