UFC welterweight Basil Hafez has been suspended by the UFC and CSAD (Combat Sports Anti-Doping), the fighter announced on Tuesday.
A former CFFC and Fury FC champion, Hafez joined the UFC in 2023, making his debut in a Fight of the Night effort against future 170lb champ Jack Della Maddalena.
Two fights followed, with Hafez earning his first and only UFC win to date at UFC 302 in 2024 when he defeated Mickey Gall.
Following a loss to Oban Elliott later that year, Hafez found himself on the sidelines, recovering from surgery. And now he’ll be out even longer, following a failed drug test for an unnamed substance that Hafez says stems from a contaminated supplement taken during his recovery.
“I have bad news for you guys. I’ve been suspended by the UFC and CSAD because of a mistake that happened during my recovery,” Hafez wrote on social media, announcing his suspension, the length of which is unclear. “I took a supplement during my healing process that ended up containing a banned substance. I had provided the clinic with the banned substance list and made it clear that those ingredients were not allowed, but it still ended up being included in the mix.”
“At the end of the day, it falls on me for not double and triple checking before taking it. Being injured and sidelined from the sport I’ve spent the last 16 years training for has been incredibly rough, both mentally and physically. The could’ve, would’ve, should’ve won’t change anything now.”
Hafez noted that he’d never before had any issues with a drug test, and planned to learn from the experience. He went on to add that “now it’s time to accept the outcome, move forward, and do better in the future. I can’t wait to see you guys in the Octagon again.”
Neither CSAD nor the UFC have issued comment on Hafez’s current status.