Currently, the UFC is the biggest and most popular MMA promotion in the world. As the most famous promotion, UFC needed to combat the growing stigma regarding the rampant abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in MMA, so they partnered with USADA to upgrade their detection process, making it difficult for the fighters to cheat. This had serious consequences for some fighters, as they were being suspended for months, years and some for even lifetime.
10. Chad Mendes – 2 Years
Mendes had extraordinary strength and an impressive physique, because of which there were several allegations regarding his possible use of steroids throughout most of his MMA career. It came as no surprise when Chad received a two-year suspension from USADA in 2016 after testing positive for a type of growth hormone. The fighter admitted his mistake but stated that the positive result came from an anti-psoriasis cream he was using, not from a drug.
9. Mirko Filipovic – 2 Years
Mirko actually made his way to the USADA sanctioning list without testing positive for drugs. In 2015, the fighter contacted USADA and told them that he had tried several treatments for the shoulder injury he sustained in his fight with Anthony Hamilton, including human growth hormone injections. Even though the test could not detect HGH, Mirko’s honesty resulted in a 2-year suspension from the UFC.
8. TJ Dillashaw – 2 Years
In 2028, when TJ Dillashaw was the Bantamweight champion, he wanted to win the Flyweight title as well. He attempted to move down to the flyweight division and challenge Henry Cejudo. The drop in weight class clearly took a toll on TJ, who looked tired and weak in the days leading up to the championship match. Shortly after losing the match via first round knockout, USADA reported that Dillashaw had tested positive for EPO, which is a high-grade performance enhancing supplement. After initially denying the allegations, TJ finally admitted and said that the weight cut and the effect it had on his body made him choose performance enhancing drugs.
7. Frank Mir – 2 Years
Frank Mir has been a fantastic MMA fighter and even won the UFC Heavyweight championship once. In 2017, Mir received a two-year suspension from USADA after failing in the competition at UFC Fight Night in Brisbane, Australia. Following his defeat to Mark Hunt, trace amounts of Turinabol metabolites were detected. Frank publicly denounced the validity of the test results, but he still had to be suspended from the promotion.
6. Ricardo Abreu – 4 Years
Ricardo came to the UFC with a lot of speed and enthusiasm, combined with the skills of a grappling specialist. Following his debut loss in the promotion, Abreu was tested positive for banned substances and was given a 2-year suspension by the USADA. He was once again tested positive for the same drug midway through the suspension and then handed a 4-year suspension. Eventually, he decided to retire from the sport.
5. Jon Jones – 4 Years
Jon Jones is currently one of the best fighters to ever step into the UFC octagon. He is the current Heavyweight champion. Jones has been involved in many controversies throughout his career and has been suspended several times. Following his TKO win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 217, Jones’ tested positive for drugs. Despite a long history of steroid allegations and failed tests, Jones was charged with just a 4-year suspension. However, Jones’ suspension was reduced to 15 months, a decision made in light of his willingness to cooperate with USADA by providing information about the supply chain of PEDs in the MMA world.
4. Chi Lewis Parry – 4 Years
During an out-of-competition test in 2019, Lewis-Parry tested positive for multiple anabolic performance enhancing drugs. The matter got worse when he adulterated a supplement in an attempt to prove that he had unknowingly consumed those substances. USADA felt that Parry deliberately attempted to spoil the investigation and hence opted to give him a 4-year suspension.
3. Francisco Rivera – 4 Years
Francisco Rivera tested positive for ephedra in 2012 after a fight with Roland Delorme. He received a 4-year suspension as a result of presenting false evidence in an attempt to overturn a positive test. He claimed that the positive result was due to eating contaminated meat on a trip in Mexico. Rivera went on to produce false bank records as proof of his trip. USADA was unimpressed with Rivera’s unprofessionalism and chose to give him a long suspension.
2. Michel Prazeres – 4 Years
In 2019, Prazers tested positive for anabolic agents and was subsequently suspended for 2 years. Following a loss in his return match in 2021, he was again tested positive for multiple performance enhancing drugs and was given a 4-year suspension by the USADA. Prazers was on an eight fight winning streak at one point and was slowly gaining momentum towards being a strong contender in the Welterweight division.
1. Ruslan Magomedov – 4 Years
Dagestan native Ruslan Magomedov is an incredible fighter and joined the UFC in 2014. In 2019, he received the longest USADA sanction in UFC history, a lifetime ban. Magomedov tested positive for Ostarine in 2016, for which he received a 2-year suspension. In 2018, he was again tested positive for multiple anabolic steroids. Magomedov’s final violation occurred when he refused to complete the sample collection process. USADA set a lifetime ban on him as a result, setting an example.
Also Read: 10 Best Ever MMA Fighters To Come Out Of Dagestan
