What is LGD 4033? UFC light heavyweight Azamat Murzakanov suspended for violation of promotion's Anti-Doping Policy

The UFC recently sanctioned light heavyweight, Azamat Murzakanov after he tested positive for a prohibited drug, LGD 4033. The anti-doping agency Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) announced the imposition of the ban on Murzakanov on Dec. 30.

Murzakanov had his last UFC fight against Alonzo Menifield in August this year, earning a TKO victory in the second round. Murzakanov also holds an undefeated pro-MMA record of 14-0 with victories in all five of his UFC encounters.

The official website of UFC reported the CSAD determined Murzakanov's violation of the UFC's anti-doping policy from one of his out-of-competition samples collected on Oct. 8, 2024. A later sample of Murzakanov collected on Oct. 31 turned out to be negative, thereby confirming the time for which he used the prohibited drug.

They sentenced the Russian light heavyweight to a 180-day suspension due to his misconduct. However, it's pertinent to note that this isn't the first ban on Murzakanov. Previously, he was sentenced to a 90-day suspension following another ADP violation in 2019.

An X update from the MMA Junkie journalist @DamonMartin also relayed the news of Murzakanov's suspension along with mentioning that it would end on 1 May 2025:

"Undefeated UFC light heavyweight Azamat Murzakanov has been suspended for 180 days following a positive drug test for the "low-level presence of a metabolite of LGD 4033". It's his second violation of the UFC's anti-doping policy. He can return after May 1."

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A closer look at LGD 4033: The drug that Azamat Murzakanov was suspended for

The CSAD found out that Azamat Murzakanov was using a dietary supplement, which led to the influx of LGD 4033 into his body. An analysis of the supplement by the Sports Medicine and Research Testing Laboratory (SMRTL), in Salt Lake City helped the CSAD arrive at this conclusion.

LGD 4033, also known as Ligandrol, is an anabolic agent which is a prohibited drug under WADA's class S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents. The primary reason behind its inclusion in the list is because of its muscle-building effects, which can later lead to cardiovascular complications and psychiatric symptoms with prolonged usage.