Lyoto Machida receives 18-month suspension for doping

Lyoto (photo) could fight again in October 2017. Josh Hedges/UFC

USADA (American Anti-Doping Agency) reported this Wednesday (16) that the Brazilian Lyoto Machida was suspended for 18 months after the fighter admitted that he used a banned substance and, consequently, failed an anti-doping test administered by the agency. The information is from the 'Fox Sports' website (USA).

As a rule, the standard suspension is two years, but the fact that the fighter himself admitted using the substance before the exam helps reduce the sentence. The suspension is retroactive to the date he was caught, which means he is free to fight again in October 2017.

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The episode happened in April this year, when the Brazilian was preparing to face Dan Henderson No. UFC Tampa. With just three days to go before the event, Lyoto declared that he used a product that contained the substance 7-keto-DHEA, considered an anabolic agent. Therefore, his fight with Henderson was cancelled.

Lyoto Machida, 38 years old, is a former UFC light heavyweight champion, a title won by knocking out Rashad evans at UFC 98, in 2009. He even challenged for the middleweight belt against the then champion Chris Weidman, at UFC 175, in 2013, but was defeated in a unanimous decision by the judges. In total, Machida has 14 wins and seven losses in Ultimate, with three setbacks in his last four fights.

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