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Dmitrii Smoliakov isn’t on the UFC roster anymore, but he’s suspended by USADA for two years anyway.
Dmitrii Smoliakov was released by the UFC after a quick loss to Greg Hardy in April. Turns out that he failed a couple of in-competition USADA drug tests as well. Smoliakov (9-3, 0-3 UFC) was handed a two-year suspension by USADA today according to a press release:
“Smoliakov, 37, tested positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and intact human chorionic gonadtrophin (hCG) as the result of urine samples he provided out-of-competition on April 22, 2019 and in-competition on April 27, 2019 at ESPN+ (Fight Night) 10, where he lost by technical knockout,” USADA officials wrote in a statement.
“rHuEPO is a synthetic hormone used to stimulate the body’s production of red blood cells, thereby increasing oxygen transport and aerobic power, and is prohibited at all times in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. hCG is also in the class Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics and its use is prohibited for males at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”
Smoliakov fought three times in the UFC, and was stopped before the final horn each time. Hardy dispatched of him in just over two minutes at a UFC Fight Night event in Florida in April. In May, it was reported that he was released. Smoliakov is currently scheduled to fight for Russian promotion Fight Nights Global in October. It is unlikely that the USADA suspension will impact that since Russia doesn’t have a proper commission that would recognize the USADA sanction.