Ruslan Magomedov showed great promise in Ultimate Fight Championship heavyweight division before his doping problems began.
Ruslan “Leopard” Magomedov, a 32-year old mixed martial arts athlete from Dagestan region of Russia, became the first UFC athlete to receive a lifetime suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
USADA announced the sanction after Magomedov was found guilty of a second and third violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy in October 2018 and February 2019, respectively.
Magomedov effectively ended his professional MMA career with a 14-1 record. He won his first three UFC fights after signing a contract with the promotion to compete in the UFC Heavyweight division in February 2014. But Magomedov has not fought since October 2015.
Ruslan Magomedov tested positive for Ostarine, Winstrol and Methyltestosterone.
Magomedov’s career was interrupted when he tested positive for the selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) known as Ostarine arising from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 29, 2016. USADA suspended Magomedov for two years as a result of the first-time violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
Magomedov was poised to make his comeback from the suspension at UFC 230 on November 3, 2018. Magomedov withdrew at the last minute presumably due to visa issues.
USADA later revealed that Magomedov had tested positive for two anabolic steroids in the weeks prior to UFC 230. USADA found methyltestosterone and Winstrol metabolites arising from an out-of-competition urine sample collected on October 10, 2018.
USADA attempted to collect another out-of-competition urine sample from Magomedov on February 5, 2019. However, Magomedov refused to cooperate and did not provide a sample.
Magomedov effectively sealed his fate in the UFC and most major MMA promotions. The refusal to provide a sample at the request of USADA anti-doping officers is considered an anti-doping violation in and of itself. And the third anti-doping violation results in an automatic lifetime suspension.