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Featherweight Vince
Murdock has been granted a six-month reduction in what was
originally a 20-month sanction after USADA found a “decreased
degree of fault” in his anti-doping violation.
Murdock was initially suspended in September 2019 after testing
positive for GW1516 metabolites in an out-of-competition urine
sample. The fighter did not admit the use of the banned substance
in his declaration form but did come forward before entering the
USADA program.
“Recently, Murdock submitted new medical records regarding his
diagnosis and treatment of Moyamoya, a rare neurological condition
that can impact memory and cognition,” a USADA statement read.
“These records allowed USADA to reevaluate Murdock’s degree of
fault for his positive test and determine that it was appropriate
to reduce his sanction from 20 months to 14 months.”
Murdock’s suspension originally began on July 6, 2019, and with the
reduced sanction, the Team Alpha Male product will be eligible to
compete again on Sept. 6. Murdock was scheduled to make his Octagon
debut against Jordan
Griffin at UFC on ESPN 3 but the bout was canceled after he
wasn’t medically cleared.
The full USADA statement is as follows:
USADA announced today that Vince Murdock, of Sacramento, Calif.,
received a reduction in his suspension after presenting new
evidence to USADA that indicates a decreased degree of fault for
his violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
Murdock initially accepted a 20-month sanction in September of 2019
as the result of testing positive for GW1516 metabolites during an
out-of-competition urine sample, which was his first test in the
UFC Anti-Doping Program. Murdock did not declare the use of GW1516
on his onboarding declaration form, as required, but came forward
with evidence of his use of this prohibited substance before
entering the Program.
Recently, Murdock submitted new medical records regarding his
diagnosis and treatment of Moyamoya, a rare neurological condition
that can impact memory and cognition. These records allowed USADA
to reevaluate Murdock’s degree of fault for his positive test and
determine that it was appropriate to reduce his sanction from 20
months to 14 months.
Murdock’s original 20-month period of ineligibility began on July
6, 2019, the date his positive sample was collected. With the
six-month reduction, Murdock’s period of ineligibility is now due
to expire on September 6, 2020.
