On Monday, the Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) announced a six-month suspension for the UFC’s No. 12-ranked light heavyweight contender, Azamat Murzakanov.
The 35-year-old Nalchik, Russia native accepted the 180-day sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy (UFC ADP).
According to a statement released by UFC.com, “Murzakanov tested positive for the low-level presence of a metabolite of LGD-4033, a prohibited-at-all-times substance in the class of anabolic agents on the UFC Prohibited List, from an out-of-competition sample collected from him on October 8, 2024. A sealed bottle of a purported dietary supplement that Murzakanov used leading up to this sample provision was procured and sent to the UFC ADP’s testing laboratory, Sports Medicine and Research Testing Laboratory (SMRTL), in Salt Lake City, Utah, for analysis. The analysis found a low-level presence of LGD-4033 in the sealed supplement, despite not being listed on its labeled ingredients. SMRTL advised CSAD that the low level of LGD-4033 contaminant in the sealed supplement, as well as the low level of LGD-4033 metabolite in Murzakanov’s sample, would not provide any significant performance advantage. Additionally, a follow-up sample that was collected from Murzakanov on October 31, 2024, before he was notified of the adverse October 8, 2024 sample, was negative. This supported Murzakanov’s timeline about when he took and discontinued taking the contaminated supplement in question.”
This sanction is the second one for Murzakanov, who served a previous suspension from the UFC ADP in 2019. Because he is a two-time offender, Murzakanov’s punishment was doubled to 180 days.
The suspension was made retroactive to November 1, when he was notified there was an adverse finding in his final sample. Murzakanov will be eligible to return on May 1, 2025.
Murzakanov, 14-0, had been on a roll with the UFC. He compiled a 4-0 record with the promotion and earned his spot on the main roster with a first-round KO win over Matheus Scheffel on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2021.
Murzakanov followed that win with a spectacular flying-knee KO of Tafon Nchukwi in March 2022. In August 2022, Murzakanov smashed his way past Devin Clark with a third-round TKO win via ground-and-pound.
He also knocked off Dustin Jacoby via unanimous decision in April 2023. Murzakanov was supposed to face Volkan Oezdemir in September 2023, but Oezdemir withdrew.
He was then set to face Khalil Rountree Jr. in December 2023, but Murzakanov had to withdraw due to contracting pneumonia. Murzakanov’s biggest win came over Alonzo Menifield Jr. in August. The fighter earned a Performance of the Night bonus for his second-round KO.
The win also landed him in the UFC’s Top 15 at light heavyweight. Murzakanov was scheduled to fight No. 8-ranked light heavyweight Nikita Krylov in November at UFC 309. However, Murzakanov withdrew.
Murzakanov’s power and striking ability have made him a force to be reckoned with in the 205-pound division. However, the multiple failed drug tests and mounting number of fights he’s withdrawn from aren’t doing him any favors.
At 35, time could be running out for him to make a serious push toward a championship opportunity.
