Werdum plans to fulfill current UFC contract despite USADA ban
Fabricio Werdum vows to finish his current contract, which still has two fights left, after his USADA suspension ends, in 2020.
Despite being into his forties and suspended until mid-2020, former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum still plans to step back into the Octagon again.
Originally scheduled to take on Aleksei Oleinik in September 2018, ‘Vai Cavalo’ was flagged by USADA for a failed exam in May of the same year for banned substance trenbolone, which resulted in a two-year suspension, which will be lifted in May 2020.
In an interview with Combate, Werdum explained he actually tried to terminate his contract, but the company was not interested in releasing a former champion, so Werdum plans to come back once his suspension is over and perform the two bouts left in the deal.
“I have two more UFC fights,” Werdum said. “I tried to terminate the contract, but they didn’t let me, because I’m a former champion and they still wanted me around, so cutting ties right now is out of the table. But if I had the possibility before, I would, because of my age, it would be better for my career. Since it wasn’t possible, I’ll stay fight two more times. Let’s see how it goes in the future.”
About to turn 42 on July 30, Werdum explains he would even stick around for longer under the UFC banner if they gave him a deal to stay in the company for a longer time, while also providing a color commentary job once he retires for good.
“If the UFC gave me a guaranteed three, four, five-year contract, I would stay,” Werdum said. “I would fight four, five more times and then I would end my career and would stay as a commentator. If not, I’m moving to another promotion.”
An anabolic steroid used to enhance muscle growth, trenbolone is known as one of the strongest PED’s in the market, but Werdum promises he never took the drug and even claims his sample must have been contaminated. Additionally, Fabricio goes on to say his second test even came out negative, but to no avail.
“I thought it was unfair, because I’m aware I didn’t take anything,” Werdum said. “I know it, I know it was a contamination. It’s tough because I have 28 USADA tests and never had a problem, but my background meant nothing to them. I think they made an example out of me because I have a big name and am used to be an UFC champion. They knew there was very little of the substance.
“The most surprising thing was that I tested positive, they didn’t say anything, they just came a week later to test me again and that one came out negative. Once again, this shows the contamination. I think they are experienced enough when someone is taking something on purpose and when it’s a contamination.”
In last outing, Fabricio Werdum (23-8-1) was knocked by Alexander Volkov in March 2018. The loss snapped a two-fight winning streak, with a submission win over Walt Harris and most recently, in November 2017, a unanimous decision victory over Marcin Tybura.