Cung Le responded to the initial reports of testing positive for elevated levels of HGH. Le denies taking performance enhancing drugs in a Facebook post.
“I was completed (sic) surprised at the results of my recent drug test. I was informed by the UFC that I passed my pre- and post-fight drug test, as well as the majority of the blood tests with the only abnormality being an elevated level of hGH being determined to be present. “
Le goes on to question the testing that took place.
“I have been informed that there are many possible reasons for a level of hGH to exceed what is allowed unknowingly and my doctors are researching those possibilities, which may include a much more serious health concern. I have also been informed about the unreliability of the current hGH testing that exists and it’s (sic) high rate of inaccuracy.”
“We were informed that the laboratory was advised to use the WADA approved rules and procedures when conducting the testing that they administer, yet the lab in Hong Kong contracted to do the testing was not WADA approved, which was surprising since there was a WADA approved lab available in Beijing China.”
The lengthy explanation goes on to bring into doubt the testing facility and its procedures for collection. Still, the public perception was that Le used PEDs to gain an advantage. The UFC has not responded to Le’s statement. It has suspended Le for a year which essentially may end his career with the company.
Payout Perspective:
The press release does some damage control for Le as well as brings into doubt the testing procedures. The release does a good job of attempting to educate those not familiar with the testing procedures that there could have been an issue with it as well as bring to light the fact that the UFC acts as its own regulatory body for these shows. The conclusion it hopes readers (i.e., Le supporters) come to is that the process of using a non-WADA approved lab could produce an incorrect result.
Human-Growth Hormone USED to be very difficult to detect (Back in 2004 when the test was first introduced in the Athens Olympics you could have attempted this type of damage control since the test was still in its early stages and there were a lot of false positives). But that is no longer the case–now it is much easier to detect/tell apart what is naturally occurring in the body & what is synthetic, the testing procedures for HGH keep getting better and better everyday (It might even be possible to detect it with urine samples in the future). He got caught and the way his body looked was a dead giveaway as he was showing all the side effects of HGH & IGF-1.