Rachael Ostovich reveals that she is set to return to the Octagon in November

Rachael Ostovich fights Paige VanZant
Rachael Ostovich fights Paige VanZant

Rachael Ostovich confirmed on Twitter today that she will be making her UFC return this month.

It was reported earlier that the UFC has booked a fight between Rachael Ostovich and Gina Mazany for the November 28 Fight Night. The bout is yet to be officially announced by UFC, but according to a report by MMA Junkie, it is nearly a sealed deal.

Rachael Ostovich has been out of the Octagon for months now, serving her USADA suspension for violating UFC's anti-doping policy.


Rachael Ostovich set to make a November return

Although the UFC and Dana White are yet to say anything about the fight, Rachael Ostovich took to Twitter earlier and announced that she will be fighting this month.

Ostovich's last Octagon appearance was in January, 2019, when she faced and lost to Paige VanZant at UFC Brooklyn via submission. Before that, she was submitted by Montana De La Rosa in July, 2018.

Rachael Ostovich was out of the Octagon because of the suspension she was handed by USADA for using substances banned by UFC. The Flyweight fighter tested positive for ostarine and GW1516 from an out-of-competition urine sample taken on January 3.


Rachael Ostovich received a reduced USADA sanction

It was announced in June that Rachael Ostovich was suspended for a year because of the offence. She received a reduction from the actual two-year layoff that a violation of such manner was usually subjected to.

According to a statement by USADA, ostarine and GW1516 were not listed on the label of the product Rachael Ostovich used. Her complete cooperation and full disclosure of the truth during the investigation earned her a few more months' reduction from the default sentence.

"Although ostarine and GW1516 were not listed on the supplement label, the analysis revealed that the product contained ostarine and GW1516, the substances for which Ostovich-Berdon tested positive. The product label listed another prohibited substance, but Ostovich-Berdon did not realize at the time that it was prohibited. Consistent with other cases with similar circumstances, USADA determined that a small reduction from the default two-year period of ineligibility was justified.
"Ostovich-Berdon received an additional reduction to the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility for her full and complete cooperation. Under the revised UFC ADP announced on November 25, 2019, a full and complete cooperation reduction may be granted in the event that an athlete demonstrates that they did not intend to enhance their performance and provided full, prompt, and truthful responses and information to all reasonable inquiries and requests for information."

Rachael Ostovich's management team released a statement the next day, confirming that she had received a reduced 8 months' sentence and will be eligible to be back in September.

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