F. Werdum had passed 25 clean tests. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @werdum
Fabricio Werdum he was caught taking an anti-doping test in May and in September his two-year suspension was announced by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The test revealed the presence of the anabolic steroid trenbolone. In an interview with the Combate channel website, the gaúcho stated that he carried out more than 50 tests on products he consumes to verify the origin of the substance, but the result was negative.
“I spent more than R$50 on tests. When you have to test a product to see if the contamination is there, you have to pay a thousand dollars for each product. I tested seven products, protein, creatine and even chimarrão herb. I didn't know where I was, I gave everything I had taken. Everything was negative”, explained Fabrício.
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Before the doping case, the Brazilian had received the USADA t-shirt which proves that the fighter had passed 25 clean tests. The gaucho stated that he has never had any problems with the regulatory body until now.
“USADA… I never had a problem, notification, anything about it. Whenever they wanted to test me, I was available. I even received a USADA shirt from 25 tests congratulating me for following the program, for dedicating myself to the maximum. Every time they arrived at the gym I joked: “USADA is here with us”. Everyone booed, as a joke. Karine, my wife, said that this influenced the sentencing and suspension. I said: “There’s no way”. Nowadays I believe so, that it influenced”, said Werdum.
After the notification, Werdum requested a meeting with the Anti-Doping Agency to talk about the matter. In a hotel, the conversation between the fighter and the entity lasted for around five hours.
“I spent five hours talking to USADA, left Los Angeles and went to Denver. I felt like a criminal. I know I didn't do anything, but that was the feeling. Two guys from USADA, a detective analyzing me all the time. I felt so bad… I didn't do anything, why is that? (…) What surprised me most was at the end of the interview, I thought it was absurd… They said: “Werdum, if you shit someone we will lower your sentence, because something you will have to pay for”. They say it's your responsibility to take anything. (…) For the guy to make a proposal like that, to bully someone, that's against my principles, even if I knew”, said 'Vai Cavalo'.
USADA's proposal is in the institution's code of conduct. Article 10.6.1.1 provides that an athlete who provides information and evidence of an anti-doping violation by another fighter will have a reduced sentence.
Without being able to perform until May 23, 2020, the Brazilian has two more fights in his contract with the organization. However, Fabrício rules out retirement.
“No, I want to finish my career when I feel like it. It's hard to be banned from fighting because of something I didn't do. I'm nervous even when it's time to speak. I'm training every day, of course not at fight intensity. I thought about doing grappling to stay active. It's been a lifetime of fighting, I thought about fighting in another country. It's all very recent, I still have to talk to the UFC. I have been working in the Spanish part of the UFC as a commentator. I'll see what I'll do, I have two more fights in the UFC. Am I really going to wait two years? What am I going to do? I don’t know yet, I’m undecided”, concluded Werdum.
Werdum's last fight was in March, when he was knocked out by Alexander Volkov No. UFC London.
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