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16 October 2025
The ITA confirms that mixed martial arts athlete Ricardo Bachir has been sanctioned with a 4-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) under article 2.1 and article 2.2 of the GAMMA Anti-Doping Rules (GAMMA ADR).
The sample of the athlete was collected by the ITA on 9 December 2023 in Bangkok (Thailand) during an in-competition anti-doping control at the 2023 World MMA Championships and yielded an adverse analytical finding¹ for the prohibited substance stanozolol.
Stanozolol is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List in the category S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids. It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a non-specified substance. Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic steroid that promotes lean muscle growth and enhances strength.
On 26 February 2024, when notified about the case, the athlete was provisionally suspended with immediate effect.²
The athlete did not challenge the ADRV. Pursuant to article 7.10.2 and article 7.10.3 of the GAMMA ADR, the ITA issued a sanctioning decision³ imposing the applicable consequences, namely a period of ineligibility of four years from 26 February 2024 until 25 February 2028 and the disqualification of competitive results from 9 December 2023 onwards.
Parties with a right to appeal may challenge the decisions before the appeal division of CAS in accordance with article 13.2.3 of the GAMMA ADR.
¹ A report from a WADA-accredited laboratory that, consistent with the International Standard for Laboratories, establishes in a sample the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers or evidence of the use of a prohibited method.
² The information about the Provisional Suspension was publicly disclosed by the ITA shortly after its imposition: https://ita.sport/sanction/global-association-of-mixed-martial-arts-gamma/
³ When an athlete does not challenge the assertion of an ADRV and does not request a hearing, anti-doping organisations have the possibility to issue a written decision sanctioning the athlete and imposing the applicable consequences without having to refer the case to a hearing panel. This is provided in articles 7.10.2 and 7.10.3 of the GAMMA anti-doping rules and article 8.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code.
