UFC welterweight Elizeu
Zaleski dos Santos has been suspended for one year by USADA
after failing an out-of-competition drug test.
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The 35-year-old Brazilian tested positive for ostarine, a selective
androgen receptor modulator, on April 8.
MMAFighting.com was first to report the positive test, which
has not been yet been formally announced by USADA. Zaleski denies
knowingly taking the banned substance, blaming the result on a
contaminated supplement.
While Zaleski’s manager, Tiago Okamura, told MMAFighting that even
though the supplement in question was identified, the compounding
pharmacy that produced it denied responsiblility. As a result, dos
Santos was unable to secure a reduced suspension from USADA.
“The talks with Elizeu and the doctor went as expected but the
pharmacy denied compounding ostarine and later questioned the
tested sample and even the packaging it was sent to the lab in,”
Okamura wrote in a statement. “With the pharmacy denying the
results and the fact they mixed ostarine we came to a standstill,
Elizeu’s and the doctor’s word against the pharmacy’s word.
“Unfortunately, there is no reason for the pharmacy to admit their
mistake to USADA since they have no jurisdiction over any Brazilian
pharmacy and especially because ostarine is no longer a legal
substance and its compounding has been prohibited by ANVISA
(Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency). After almost six months of
fighting to clear his name with USADA and reduce his suspension, we
are now stuck. We did everything that was requested but we cannot
make the pharmacy comply.”
Zaleski’s positive test forced him to withdraw from a proposed bout
against Mounir
Lazzez on April 16. He will be eligible to compete again in
April 2023. Other UFC athletes who have tested positive for
ostarine in the past include Sean
O’Malley, Marvin
Vettori, Ovince St.
Preux, Amanda
Ribas and Diego
Sanchez, among others. Zaleski is 9-3 in the Las Vegas-based
promotion and last appeared at UFC 267, where he took a lopsided
unanimous decision triumph over Benoit St.
Denis in October 2021.