Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

UFC contender learns suspension length after failed drug test

Originally posted on HITC | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Jan 28, 2026 1:37 PM ET

A rising strawweight’s momentum has been halted following an anti-doping ruling.

A ranked UFC fighter has received her official punishment after testing positive for a banned substance, bringing an abrupt pause to what had been a promising run inside the Octagon. Iasmin Lucindo, who had won six of her previous seven fights, was building toward a potential title push before the setback.

The Brazilian moved into the top 10 of the women’s strawweight division after defeating Angela Hill last August, but her progress stalled when she was removed from a scheduled bout in December and placed under provisional suspension. That investigation has now concluded, with a formal ruling confirmed.

Iasmin Lucindo handed nine-month suspension

Lucindo tested positive for the prohibited substance mesterolone and was suspended in late 2025 by both the UFC and the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Her team attributed the result to a contaminated supplement, a claim later examined by Combat Sports Anti-Doping.

According to a statement released by CSAD, evidence gathered during the investigation indicated that Lucindo did not knowingly ingest mesterolone to gain a competitive advantage. She provided official documentation from a Brazilian pharmacy that compounded dietary supplements, some of which also contained mesterolone, and contamination could not be ruled out.

Taking her cooperation into account, CSAD issued a nine-month suspension retroactive to September 24, 2025, the date her sample was collected. Lucindo will be eligible to return to competition on June 24, 2026.

Different outcome for UFC heavyweight case

While Lucindo’s suspension allows for a relatively quick return, another recent UFC case resulted in a far harsher penalty. Heavyweight Mohammed Usman was handed a two-year-plus ban after testing positive for testosterone.

CSAD stated that Usman attempted to mislead investigators, which significantly extended his suspension. As a result, he will remain sidelined until April 2028, highlighting how cooperation — or lack thereof — can heavily influence disciplinary outcomes.

Lucindo, by contrast, now has a clear timeline for her comeback and will look to regain momentum in the strawweight division once her suspension ends.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: