Islam Makhachev pulled from UFC on FOX 19 over PED test
“In accordance with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, Makhachev has received a provisional suspension, and has been removed from his scheduled bout against Drew Dober from Saturday’s card.”
Islam Makhachev made weight successfully for his fight with Drew Dober on Friday, and was then pulled from the fight over a flagged PED test.
The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed Islam Makhachev of a potential Anti-Doping Policy Violation involving Meldonium, a prohibited substance, stemming from a recent out-of-competition sample collection, reads an official UFC statement. In accordance with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, Makhachev has received a provisional suspension, and has been removed from his scheduled bout against Drew Dober from Saturday’s card in Tampa, Florida.
The UFC Anti-Doping Program follows the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List of Substances, which is updated yearly. Meldonium was recently added to the WADA Prohibited List, which went into effect on January 1, 2016. WADA recently announced that they are currently conducting further studies of the substance which may influence how cases involving Meldonium are evaluated. In order to ensure Makhachev receives full and fair due process, USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will consider all relevant information before making any determinations.
“Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.
Dober will receive his show money. The card also saw Lyoto Machida pulled from the main event, on short notice.
Both Machida and Makhachev potentially face two-year suspensions.