Overview
- CSAD says out-of-competition samples collected on February 16, 2026 and March 5, 2026 tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) and the 16-month period of ineligibility was backdated to February 16, 2026 with eligibility to return on June 17, 2027.
- Oezdemir publicly admitted the use on Instagram, called it “the biggest mistake of my life,” and accepted responsibility while cooperating fully with CSAD throughout the investigation.
- The fighter supplied text-message evidence that shows he was contacted unsolicited by a Switzerland-based healthcare professional or pharmacist who prepared a vial of EPO and told him it would be undetectable.
- CSAD referred the case to the World Anti-Doping Agency, which connected investigators with Swiss law enforcement; Drug Free Sport International handled collection and the WADA-accredited SMRTL lab analyzed the samples.
- The suspension removes a ranked light-heavyweight from competition through mid-2027, highlights the risks of third-party medical approaches, and underscores that EPO raises red blood cell production to boost endurance and is treated as a serious anti-doping violation.