Levi
Rodrigues’ recent Contender Series victory has been overturned. |
Getty/UFC
Former
Dana White’s Contender Series winner Levi
Rodrigues will have to wait to make his Octagon debut.
Rodrigues was suspended nine months by the Nevada State Athletic
Commission on Wednesday after testing positive for metabolite of
nandrolone, which is a banned anabolic steroid. He was also fined
$1,000.60. Rodrigues will be eligible to return on July 14.
The 29-year-old Brazilian earned a UFC contract thanks to a first-round
stoppage of Freddy
Vidal on the Contender Series on Oct. 14. Rodrigues’ drug test
was flagged after the bout. He had not been booked for a
UFC debut prior to the NSAC’s sanctions. It’s currently unclear
if Rodrigues will remain on the UFC roster.
Injury Recovery?
As a result of the failed drug test, Rodrigues’ victory against
Vidal has been overturned to a no contest. Rodrigues’ management
revealed to MMAjunkie.com that the fighter used nandrolone
to treat a back injury from May 2024 to July 2024, but his use of
the substance ended a little more than a year before his appearance
on the Contender Series.
“Baby Monster” won his first five professional outings on the
regional circuit, finish all of his opponents inside of a round.