Amanda Nunes officially back in UFC anti-doping program clearing way for return from retirement
Amanda Nunes has taken the next necessary step to resume her career after declaring plans to fight again following her retirement back in 2023.
The former two-division champion is officially back in the UFC’s anti-doping program with her being drug tested once within the past seven days. Testing numbers are provided weekly on the UFC’s anti-doping website with Nunes appearing with the latest update.
Because fighters are tested at random, this doesn’t reveal when Nunes actually re-entered the UFC’s drug testing program but she has officially submitted a sample, which is one more hurdle to clear before she can fight again.
Athletes who have retired are required to undergo at least six months of drug testing before being allowed to compete again. Nunes said she was planning to return to the UFC’s anti-doping program after staring down Kayla Harrison following her win over Julianna Pena in June to become the new women’s bantamweight champion.
Depending on when Nunes actually re-enrolled determines when she can fight again but she will likely get clearance in either December 2025 or potentially January 2026 unless the UFC issues an exemption for the six months of required drug testing.
Nunes is expected to clash with Harrison in her first fight back after the former teammates previously worked together under the same coaches at American Top Team in Florida.
During her historic run through the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, Nunes went a remarkable 14-1 over 15 fights with her only loss coming to Pena in 2021. Nunes avenged that loss with a lopsided decision win over Pena seven months later before defending the belt one more time with a victory over Irene Aldana before calling it a career.
Since then, Nunes has been dedicated to starting a family with her wife, fellow UFC veteran Nina Nunes, but she’s been hinting at a return to action for some time now.
With Harrison crowned as champion, Nunes definitely has a formidable challenge awaiting her with the UFC all but certain to book that fight as soon as the Brazilian born legend is cleared to compete again.