UFC welterweight suspended 1 year for anti-doping violation

UFC welterweight Bassil Hafez has been suspended for one year following a failed out-of-competition drug test conducted on March 20 in Las Vegas. Combat Sports Anti-Doping, the UFC's anti-doping partner, announced the sanction on Wednesday. Hafez tested positive for ipamorelin, a prohibited peptide hormone.

According to CSAD's investigation, Hafez claimed he was unaware that a wellness clinic product he consumed contained the banned substance. However, the organization determined he acted with gross negligence by failing to properly verify the ingredients and their prohibited status before use. The suspension means Hafez will be ineligible to compete until March 2027.

Peptide hormones like ipamorelin are banned under anti-doping regulations due to their potential performance-enhancing properties. While CSAD found no evidence Hafez intentionally used the substance to gain a competitive advantage, the lack of due diligence regarding supplement contents resulted in the year-long sanction—a standard penalty for such violations in combat sports.