Fabricio Werdum Receives Suspension Reduction, Eligible to Return in April

Fabricio Werdum Granted a Reduced Sanction under UFC Anti-Doping Policy https://t.co/qYyCqjohAa

— USADA | UFC Anti-Doping Program (@USADA_UFC) January 16, 2020

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum will be back in action much sooner than anticipated.

According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Thursday, Werdum has been issued a 10-month reduction in his suspension from competition. With the shorter sentence, the former champ will be eligible to return on April 1.

Werdum tested positive in April 2018 for banned substances prior to his headliner at UFC Moscow and was given a two-year suspension. Although he claimed it was a "misunderstanding," the two-year ban stood until now. Even though his positive test came that April, the suspension went into effect later due to his temporary retirement and other testing issues.

The reason for the suspension being reduced is due to his cooperation with the drug testing agency in identifying other athletes or organizations also using banned substances. The agency stated that, "Under the applicable rules, an athlete facing a period of ineligibility who provides information that leads to the discovery of another violation or which results in a criminal or disciplinary body discovering an offense, is eligible for a sanction reduction." It is unclear what information "Vai Cavalo" provided to the agency, but it was sufficient in granting him a reduction in his own sentence.

USADA's statement regarding Werdum is as follows:

"USADA announced today that Fabricio Werdum, of Redondo Beach, Calif., was granted a 10-month reduction in his original two-year suspension. Werdum’s period of ineligibility began on May 22, 2018 but was tolled for a period of time while he was not available for testing and retired. After being reinstated, and with his reduction, his new period of ineligibility is set to expire on April 1, 2020.

Werdum, 42, received a reduction from the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility due to substantial assistance. Under the applicable rules, an athlete facing a period of ineligibility who provides information that leads to the discovery of another violation or which results in a criminal or disciplinary body discovering an offense, is eligible for a sanction reduction.

On April 25, 2018, he tested positive for trenbolone and its metabolite epitrenbolone following an out-of-competition urine test. Trenbolone is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and the UFC Prohibited List. Werdum’s two-year period of ineligibility began on May 22, 2018, the date his provisional suspension was imposed."