THE APEX TIMES
Volkan Oezdemir admits using injected EPO, announces 16-month UFC ban
The light-heavyweight title challenger says he took erythropoietin, a banned performance-enhancing drug, and is accepting a suspension that keeps him away from competition for the next year-plus.
Volkan Oezdemir, a former UFC light-heavyweight title challenger, has said he took erythropoietin (EPO), a banned performance-enhancing drug, and announced a 16-month ban from competition. Oezdemir, who previously came up short in his effort to dethrone Daniel Cormier in 2018, framed the decision as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing, saying he accepts full responsibility for what he did.
According to the account reported by Yahoo Sports, Oezdemir said he used EPO by injection. EPO is widely categorized in anti-doping rules as a performance-enhancing substance because it can affect red blood cell production and endurance capabilities, and it is prohibited under UFC and broader anti-doping frameworks.
The development changes the immediate shape of the UFC’s light-heavyweight picture. Oezdemir has been positioned as a credible contender in the division’s recent title run, and a suspension of this length generally removes a veteran from the short list of active challengers, at least through the time frame required to serve the ban.
For Oezdemir personally, the fallout is both sporting and reputational. A ban announced by a fighter is not just a statement about compliance, it is also a report to promoters and opponents that any future matchups will require the fighter to first be cleared to return. In practical terms, a 16-month absence often alters how quickly a contender can re-establish momentum, particularly in a division where new contenders continue to emerge.
The timing is also notable because Oezdemir’s earlier high-profile opportunity came against Cormier in 2018. In that context, the latest update underlines how quickly a fighter’s path to another title attempt can be redirected by off-the-cage decisions, regardless of the fighter’s competitiveness inside the Octagon.
What to watch next is whether additional details accompany the ban, such as the start date of the suspension and any reinstatement requirements through the UFC’s anti-doping process. Even when a fighter publicly acknowledges a violation, the formal timeline and eligibility for return are determined by the league’s governing rules, and fans will be looking for confirmation from UFC and anti-doping authorities. Until then, Oezdemir’s stated suspension remains the central fact for how the light-heavyweight division will plan around its next wave of challengers.
Why It Matters
- A 16-month suspension removes a known light-heavyweight contender from the division’s active title-chase planning.
- The announcement can affect matchmaking, since opponents and promoters generally cannot schedule around an ineligible fighter.
- Oezdemir’s 2018 title opportunity against Daniel Cormier provides context for how quickly a contender’s trajectory can change.
- Public acknowledgment of EPO use raises broader questions about anti-doping compliance among elite fighters and the enforcement timeline for returns.
Key Facts
- Volkan Oezdemir said he took EPO, a banned performance-enhancing drug.
- Oezdemir said the substance was injected.
- Oezdemir announced a 16-month ban from competition.
- Oezdemir previously challenged for the UFC light-heavyweight title against Daniel Cormier in 2018.
- The reported admission centers on responsibility taken by Oezdemir for the rule violation.