Quick Facts
- Volkan Oezdemir announced himself, on Instagram, that he failed a drug test for EPO.
- The test dates back to February 2026, during the off-competition period.
- He received a 16-month suspension, reduced by CSAD due to his cooperation.
- The former light heavyweight title challenger says he was approached by a “health professional” who allegedly supplied him with the substance.
- The UFC and CSAD have not yet issued an official statement on the case.
Volkan Oezdemir is going through one of the most difficult moments of his career. The former UFC light heavyweight title challenger announced himself, this Friday on Instagram, that he had failed a drug test for EPO (erythropoietin), a banned substance that improves oxygen transport in the blood. Notably, the announcement came directly from the fighter, ahead of any official statement from the organization or its anti-doping division, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD).
A Positive Test Dating Back to February
According to the detailed account published by the Swiss fighter, it all began in late 2025, after a fight in Qatar. A man presenting himself as a “health professional” based in Switzerland contacted him on Instagram, claiming to be a fan, then brought up influential connections and investment opportunities in the Gulf. Oezdemir says that at 36, while thinking about life after his career, he was interested.
The conversation then took a different turn. Still dealing with an ankle issue, the fighter was offered a recovery plan said to get him back in shape within two months. The man presented him with a substance he described as “safe and undetectable”: a vial of EPO, given for free, with instructions to tell no one. Oezdemir says he followed that advice and injected the substance that same evening.
Three days later, a CSAD team showed up at his home for a surprise drug test. On March 5, the fighter learned his test had come back positive. In his message, he describes a mix of shock and, paradoxically, relief: “The illusion shattered, and my reality changed. But in a way, it was also a relief.”
Sixteen Months of Suspension, Cooperation Praised
Oezdemir says he chose to disclose everything to the UFC and CSAD as soon as he was notified of the result. That full cooperation reportedly earned him a reduced penalty: CSAD cites typical suspensions of 18 months, two years, or more in this type of case, compared with 16 months served in his, counted from the date of the failed test. The fighter highlights several mitigating circumstances recognized by the anti-doping body: the decisive involvement of a third party who initially presented himself for professional reasons, the fact that the substance was provided free of charge, and his immediate cooperation once the result was known.
The fighter nonetheless insists on his personal responsibility: “As a high-level athlete, I am responsible for everything I put in my body. I made a mistake, and I take full responsibility for it.” He says he chose to make his story public in the hope of warning other athletes who, like him, compete in an individual sport: “Isolation is a risk.”
A Career Marked by a Missed Title Shot
Volkan Oezdemir made his name with a string of quick finishes that carried him to a UFC light heavyweight title fight, a title he never won. His 16-month suspension, in effect since February, keeps him out of competition for much of the coming season. At this stage, neither the UFC nor CSAD has publicly confirmed the details of the case; both bodies are reportedly working with the World Anti-Doping Agency to investigate the matter, with no official statement issued so far.
This case once again raises the issue of fighters’ vulnerability to intermediaries presenting themselves as supporters or health professionals operating outside the organizations’ official medical channels. It comes as the UFC has stepped up communication about its anti-doping program in recent months. It remains to be seen whether the organization or CSAD will release a more detailed account of the Oezdemir case in the coming days.
Coming up: the official rankings after this event, and the next card on UFC tonight.
