Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Diaz cleared to fight at UFC 244 despite drug test

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Friday, 25 October 2019 22:45

LAS VEGAS -- Nate Diaz is eligible to compete against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 on Nov. 2 in New York. Period.

"The fight is ON!!!," UFC president Dana White tweeted on Friday. "I 100 percent knew Nate wasn't taking anything to cheat."

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has ruled Diaz, who is scheduled to headline UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden next weekend, has not committed an anti-doping violation, despite an atypical finding in an out-of-competition test taken in October. Diaz's test showed the presence of Ligandrol, a banned selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).

According to the UFC, Diaz's levels of Ligandrol, a banned substance also known as LGD-4033 that stimulates muscle growth, was detected at a "double picogram/mL" level. The USADA traced the substance to a legal supplement Diaz ingested, which was categorized as an organic, vegan, plant-based daily multivitamin.

"Mr. Diaz has not committed an anti-doping policy violation, has not been provisionally suspended and is not subject to any sanctions," a UFC statement said. "Additionally, UFC has been informed by independent experts who have determined that there is unequivocally no appreciable performance enhancing or therapeutic benefit from the significantly limited amount of LGD-4033 that may be present in his system, which is roughly 10,000 times lower than one LGD-4033 therapeutic dose.

Diaz announced on social media on Thursday he was "not gonna make it" to UFC 244 because of elevated levels of a banned substance caused by a contaminated supplement. On Friday, he posted on Twitter he wanted the UFC and White to "Clear my name or I ain't doin s---." Diaz has since deleted the post.

According to the UFC, the USADA set a threshold on Ligandrol in late August after a rash of contaminated supplement cases involving SARM positives with its athletes. That decision occurred more than one month before Diaz's atypical finding.

The threshold is set at 100 picograms/mL, which Diaz tested well below. Numerous athletic commissions, however, who also hold jurisdiction over mixed martial arts contests, have not yet set the same threshold. The New York State Athletic Commission, for instance, still has the right to hold a hearing on Diaz's case, though Campbell said it has not indicated it intends to do so.

"New York has been aware of everything in real time as we've gotten it updated," said UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell. "We were informed of the contaminated substance directly linked to Nate Diaz's positive, and they were notified. Based on the info they have in front of them, it's been conveyed to me there is a high degree of comfort that Nate in no way was seeking a performance-enhancing advantage."

The UFC's anti-doping program has seen a rash of cases linked to contaminated supplements since it was implemented in the summer of 2015. According to UFC senior vice president of athlete performance Jeff Novitzky, the USADA has issued slightly fewer than 100 sanctions since summer 2015, and in the "ballpark of 30 to 40 percent" have been ultimately linked to contaminated supplements.

Diaz's case is most similar to one involving UFC welterweight Neil Magny. Magny tested positive for a low level of LGD-4033 and announced the news himself on social media in May. Because only trace amounts were found and the belief is that Magny ingested the substance from a tainted supplement, the USADA cleared him to fight last month. Unlike Diaz, Magny was unable to produce the specific supplement that was contaminated.

Diaz's team was able to send supplements to the USADA for testing at the World Anti-Doping Agency-certified Sports Medicine Research & Testing Laboratory (SMRTL) in Salt Lake City, sources said. The supplements were tested Thursday night and one tested positive for LGD-4033, the prohibited substance in question.

Diaz (20-11) is one of the biggest stars in the sport. He is scheduled to face Masvidal (34-13) for the unprecedented "BMF" title in the main event of UFC 244.

Read 340 times

Soccer

Spurs' Ange on Solanke critics: 'Do some yoga'

Spurs' Ange on Solanke critics: 'Do some yoga'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAnge Postecoglou has called for patience from anyone rushing to jud...

Court reprimands LaLiga chief in CVC case appeal

Court reprimands LaLiga chief in CVC case appeal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLaLiga president Javier Tebas has been given a "public reprimand" b...

Arteta: Arsenal prepped for City clash in preseason

Arteta: Arsenal prepped for City clash in preseason

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsArsenal wrap up a gruelling week on the road with a third straight...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Embiid agrees to 3-year, $192.9M deal

Sources: Embiid agrees to 3-year, $192.9M deal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJoel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a three-year,...

From Porzingis to Butler: Key injury returns ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season

From Porzingis to Butler: Key injury returns ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWe're in the final weeks of the NBA offseason before teams convene...

Baseball

Mets plate 10 in 3 straight games for first time

Mets plate 10 in 3 straight games for first time

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- The New York Mets scored double-digit runs in three str...

Soto to get X-rays after 'scary' slide into wall

Soto to get X-rays after 'scary' slide into wall

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOne day after clinching a postseason berth, the New York Yankees re...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated