Zubaira Tukhugov pulled from UFN 102 following flagged test

UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov has been removed from UFC Fight Night 102 following a potential doping violation. UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov, also known as UFC Fight Night 102, also known as UFC Albany will be held on December 9, 2016, at Times Union Center in Albany, New York.

The unfortunate news comes via UFC.com.

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Zubaira Tukhugov of a potential Anti-Doping violation stemming from out-of-competition sample collections made on September 7, 2016 and October 29, 2016. USADA has provisionally suspended Tukhugov based on the potential anti-doping violation. The UFC is removing Tukhugov from his scheduled bout against Tiago Trator on December 9 in Albany, New York, and is in the process of attempting to locate a replacement.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Consistent with all previous potential anti-doping violations, additional information or UFC statements will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

The Chechen-born Russian had been on a nine-fight win streak, the last two in the UFC, prior to his last fight, a split decision loss to Renato Moicano at UFC 198 on May 14, 2016.

Having a test flagged is not synonymous with guilt, rather, it is the beginning of a process to determine guilt or innocence. Some fighters have had a test flagged and later been found not culpable. For example, Li Jingliang, Ning Guangyou, and Augusto Montano tested positive for clenbuterol, but USADA found they ingested the substance without fault or negligence, and were cleared to fight immediately following the investigation. And, of course, other fighters, most recently Adam Hunter, were found to be responsible and suspended for the full two years. Still others fall in between.

The UFC Fight Night 102 card now includes:
Derrick Lewis vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov
Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Hamilton
Patrick Cummins vs. Gian Villante
Raphael Assunção vs. Aljamain Sterling
Corey Anderson vs. Sean O’Connell
Juliana Lima vs. Tatiana Suarez
Randy Brown vs. Brian Camozzi
Oluwale Bamgbose vs. Joe Gigliotti
Andrew Sanchez vs. Trevor Smith
Tiago Trator vs. TBA
Frankie Perez vs. Marc Diakiese
Keith Berish vs. Ryan Janes