Michel Prazeres Handed With Four-Year USADA Suspension
UFC veteran welterweight Michel Prazeres has been handed a four-year suspension by USADA after testing positive for clomiphene and oxandrolone ahead of his previously scheduled bout with Clay Guida.
This isn’t the first time that Prazeres has been suspended long-term by USADA. He was served with a two-year suspension in 2019 and is now ineligible to compete in the country until 2025, pending appeal.
After originally aiming at retirement, Prazeres later walked back on leaving the fight game after it was noted that he could still compete in other areas, including his native Brazil. It’s unclear if Prazeres will seek free agency and fight in another promotion.
Prazeres later spoke with MMA Fighting and clarified the reasoning for the positive drug tests. He alleged that it was to treat fertility issues after his wife suffered a miscarriage in 2018.
“I told [USADA] everything. I said my wife and I were doing treatment to have another baby,” Prazeres said. “This is not a steroid, this is a medication. They interviewed me, my wife, and my doctor, they took all the receipts and medical records, the exams I’ve done, and these sons of b*tches still do that?”
Michel Prazeres Is Ineligible To Fight In UFC Until 2025
The recent suspension brings up quite the dilemma for Prazeres, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to fight in the UFC again but could fight for a smaller promotion in the meantime.
Following a loss to Kevin Lee at lightweight in 2015, Prazeres would go on a tear with eight straight victories over the likes of Gilbert Burns, and current Bellator contender Mads Burnell. He most recently lost to Shavkat Rakhmonov earlier this year via second-round submission.
What are your thoughts on Prazeres’ suspension? Where would you like to see him fight next?
