UFC Cuts Undefeated Fighter With Perfect Finish Rate After Drug Ban
Dana White (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nothing will derail a promising MMA career like testing positive for a banned substance. It's worse when that substance is one that is almost never associated with a tainted supplement.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 24: Danylo Voievodkin of Ukraine reacts after being awarded a UFC ... More contract during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week seven at UFC APEX on September 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
On Thursday, the UFC revealed Voievodkin had been issued and accepted a 24-month suspension from the Combat Sports Anti-Doping commission (CSAD) for violating the promotion's anti-doping policy. According to the UFC's release, Voievodkin tested positive for meldonium.
The drug is common in Eastern Europe, but it has been banned in combat sports and other athletics since 2016. Meldonium is banned because it provides a cardiovascular and endurance boost, offering an unfair advantage in high-intensity sports like MMA.
Voievodkin tested positive for the drug during an out-of-competition sample collection in October 2024 while he was in Lithuania. As a result of the two-year ban, the UFC decided to release Voievodkin.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 24: (L-R) Danylo Voievodkin of Ukraine secures a rear choke submission ... More against Bailey Schoenfelder in a heavyweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week seven at UFC APEX on September 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Voievodkin looked like one of the brightest young heavyweights to come into the UFC in a while following his impressive first-round submission win over Bailey Schoenfelder in September 2024 on the Season 8 of Dana White Contender Series.
The 24-year-old Ukrainian whose pro record is a sparkling 7-0 with all his wins by first-round finish was seemingly set to make a mark in the UFC. If Voievodkin makes a mark in the sport anytime soon, it probably won't be with the UFC, and he'll have to wait at least two years to get back to action.
With his UFC contract terminated and a two-year suspension in effect, Voievodkin faces an uncertain future in professional mixed martial arts. The suspension prohibits him from competing in any CSAD-sanctioned events until November 10, 2026.
Rebuilding his career will require not only maintaining his physical conditioning during this hiatus but also restoring his reputation within the MMA community. Athletes returning from doping suspensions often face skepticism and increased scrutiny.
Voievodkin's path back to prominence will depend on his ability to demonstrate compliance with anti-doping regulations and to perform at a high level upon his return. Voievodkin is the second heavyweight the UFC has released in the past week following Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
The UFC is in London for a high-profile Fight Night card. Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards returns to the Octagon to face Sean Brady. Here is a look at the entire card.
Main Card (Starting at 3:00 PM ET):
Preliminary Card (Starting at 12:00 PM ET):
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