Abdul-Kerim Edilov Accepts Fifteen-Month Suspension From USADA

Abdul-Kerim Edilov has accepted a fifteen-month suspension from the USADA for his anti-doping policy violation. The agency announced on Friday that Edilov, who was notified of an anti-doping policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition test, tested positive for meldonium and has accepted the punishment, which is retroactive to January 7th.

The announcement read:

Meldonium is a non-specified substance that was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List in 2016. It is in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is now prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the WADA Prohibited List.

After a thorough review of the laboratory results and the evidence presented, USADA accepted Edilov’s explanation that the meldonium was a prescribed medication he was taking in a therapeutic dose under the care of a physician and without the intent to enhance his athletic performance. Nonetheless, because Edilov’s use of meldonium continued after the substance was officially prohibited on January 1, 2016, he required a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in order to avoid violating the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.

Edilov was to make his UFC debut in at UFC Fight Night 81.