USADA announced today that UFC® athlete, Abdul-Kerim Edilov, of the Chechen Republic, Russia, has accepted a 15-month sanction for an anti-doping policy violation after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
Edilov, 24, tested positive for meldonium following an out-of-competition urine test conducted on January 7, 2016. Meldonium is a non-specified substance that was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List in 2016. It is in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is now prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the WADA Prohibited List.
After a thorough review of the laboratory results and the evidence presented, USADA accepted Edilov’s explanation that the meldonium was a prescribed medication he was taking in a therapeutic dose under the care of a physician and without the intent to enhance his athletic performance. Nonetheless, because Edilov’s use of meldonium continued after the substance was officially prohibited on January 1, 2016, he required a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in order to avoid violating the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
Edilov accepted a 15-month period of ineligibility that began on January 7, 2016, the date his positive sample was collected. In addition, Edilov has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to January 7, 2016, including forfeiture of any title, ranking, purse or other compensation.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (www.ufc.usada.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (UFC.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, and periodic athlete alerts.
For more information or media inquiries, email media@usada.org.