Volkan
Oezdemir is coming clean.
Prior to any statements from the organization or its anti-drug
testing wing of Combat Sports Anti-Doping, Oezdemir posted on
Instagram
Friday revealing the news of his failed drug test. In February, he
failed an out-of-competition test for EPO. The Swiss athlete
assumed full responsibility for his actions and explained in detail
what took place in this unusual situation. The UFC and CSAD have
yet to provide a public statement on the matter, but indicated to
MMA Junkie that they worked alongside the World Anti-Doping
Agency to review this matter.
The former light heavyweight title challenger will be out of action
for 16 months effective his failed testing date, with CSAD reducing
his suspension from 18 months, two years or greater due to his
alleged complete cooperation in handling the case. In his
statements, Oezdemir indicated that he was approached by someone in
the healthcare industry offering to improve his condition, and he
unwittingly took banned substances.
I cooperated immediately; I did the same with CSAD
Oezdemir’s complete
statement, written both in his native French and English with
bolded portions for emphasis, was accompanied by a caption. In the
brief caption, he wrote, “I have an announcement to make, and it’s
a difficult one. I made a mistake, and I’ll explain why in the hope
of helping other athletes.”
The 205er’s statement reads as follows:
“In February, I tested positive for EPO after following the
recommendations of a healthcare professional. As an elite athlete,
I am responsible for everything I put in my body. I made a mistake,
and I take full responsibility for it.
“At the end of 2025, I competed in Qatar. A few days later, I was
contacted on Instagram by a healthcare professional based in
Switzerland. He introduced himself as a supporter and suggested
that we meet. During our first meeting, he told me about his
connections with influential people, investment opportunities in
one of the Gulf states, and potential prospects for my career after
retirement from the sport. He also mentioned the possibility of
patronage. I was 36 years old and thinking about life after my
sporting career, so I was interested.
“I was recovering from ankle surgery. The healthcare professional
and I met again. The conversation shifted. He no longer talked
about business, but about my recovery. He presented me with a plan
that, according to him, would get me back to peak physical
condition within two months. He showed me a substance that he
described as safe and undetectable. He had prepared a vial of EPO.
He told me not to tell anyone about it. I complied. I gave myself
the first injection that same evening. That was my decision. And it
was the biggest mistake of my life.
“Three days later, the Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) team came
to my home to conduct an anti-doping test. On March 5, I was
informed that my test had come back positive. In that moment, the
illusion was shattered, and my reality changed. But in a way, it
was also a relief.
“I decided to tell the UFC everything. I cooperated immediately. I
did the same with CSAD. In the end, I received a 16-month
suspension in light of my cooperation and the mitigating
circumstances: a healthcare professional played a significant role;
he initially approached me under the pretense of discussing
business; he had prepared the substances himself and provided them
to me free of charge.
“My independence has always been one of my strengths. I left home
at a young age to live abroad. I built my career far from my
family. I moved country to country to pursue my sport. I got used
to dealing with problems on my own. But this time, it became a
weakness. Today, I want to say to every athlete—especially those
competing in individual sports—that isolation is a risk.
“I acknowledge what I did, and I take full responsibility for it.
Every athlete is responsible for what they put into their body. I
am sharing how this happened because I needed to understand my own
actions. And because what happened to me could happen to other
athletes. I let down my sport, my fans, and ultimately, myself. To
everyone who has supported me—my family, my loved ones, and my
supporters—I am deeply sorry.”
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