UFC heavyweight fighter Marcos Rogerio de Lima has been suspended following a positive drug test.
The Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), which handles UFC drug testing, reported that de Lima tested positive for anastrozole. This substance is prohibited at all times and is classified as a hormone and metabolic modulator on the UFC’s banned substances list. The positive test resulted from an out-of-competition sample taken on January 13.
This marks the second time de Lima has tested positive for anastrozole. In 2017, he received a reduced six-month suspension after USADA determined that the positive test was due to a contaminated supplement. In this recent case, CSAD stated that de Lima provided extensive medical documentation regarding a medical condition for which he was prescribed medication that contained anastrozole.
CSAD noted that de Lima did not verify the prohibited status of the prescribed medication before using it, nor did he contact the UFC Anti-Doping Compliance Team for assistance in checking its status.
However, after a thorough investigation, including an interview with the fully cooperative de Lima and communication with his physician, CSAD concluded that the heavyweight fighter was not attempting to gain a performance advantage. He simply failed to check the status of his medication and seek a therapeutic use exemption for using anastrozole.
Initially, the anti-doping agency considered a six-month suspension for de Lima, but because this is his second offense, the penalty was doubled to one year.
De Lima will be eligible to compete again starting January 24, 2026.
