Another UFC fighter will be sitting out a year, as heavyweight Azunna Anyanwu has been handed a one year suspension by USADA.
After testing positive for a prohibited substance late last year, UFC heavyweight Azunna Anyanwu has accepted his fate as handed down by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. On Friday, USADA distributed a press release announcing that Anyanwu (14-5) had agreed to a one year suspension from competition, dating retroactively to October 18, 2017, the collection date of his positive sample.
Friday’s release noted that Anyanwu failed for the substance furosemide, which falls under the diuretic/masking agent class in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list, which is utilized by USADA in its UFC Anti-Doping program. Available under the brand name Lasix, the medication is used to treat fluid build-up in patients with kidney disease and heart failure, among other conditions.
In their statement, USADA noted that “Furosemide is a Specified Substance in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”
Azunna Anyanwu first came onto the radar of most UFC fans after appearing on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders Series. He picked up a win over Greg Rebello on the first edition of the series, then made his UFC debut last September. That night, he came up short, losing a split decision against Justin Ledet at UFC Fight Night 116.
