Cung Le has tested positive for HGH following his UFC Fight Night 48 fight with Michael Bisping in Macau. As a result, he has been banned nine months by the UFC and will need to take a drug test before competing in the UFC.
The UFC issued the following statement:
UFC middleweight Cung Le tested positive for an excess level of Human Growth Hormone in his system following his fight at UFC Fight Night in Macao, China on August 23. Due to his positive test result, Le was suspended by the UFC and notified that he violated the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy and Promotional Agreement with Zuffa, LLC. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by our athletes. Le will serve a nine-month suspension and, at its conclusion, will need to pass a drug test before competing in the UFC again.
The UFC was acting as its own commission for this event as Macau does not have a regulatory body overseeing MMA. Thus, it tested Le and made the finding.
*UPDATE: The UFC has extended Le’s suspension to 12 months.
Payout Perspective:
Le’s “renewed” 42 year old physique made everyone wonder about whether he was taking something more for his fight with Bisping. Most people were not surprised with the results of the drug test. This is a disappointment for the UFC since it had hoped Le would be an ambassador to help the UFC’s efforts to make inroads into Asia. Le had even donated money and supplies to an orphanage in Vietnam prior to his fight. It looks like that good will has gone by the side.
I couldn’t find the medical suspensions after that event. maybe somebody has a link?
Anyways, 9 months is short, right? He would probably have needed a layoff to heal up anyway. The short suspension and no mentioned monetary fine makes the “punishment” look realy small.
That, plus the picture with him being pumped up AND the interview later with him denying any doping before the event come off bad on the ufc and cung le.
Is there any reaction by Bisping? Is he incentizices to stay silent?
A 9 month suspension is pretty serious to a 42 year old fighter. It means he is going to miss a fight and won’t be able to take another one until he is 43 The fact that he was caught goes to show you that they do test fighters pretty well abroad also and it is good that he now have to pass a drug test for his next fight. Goes to show you this sport is finally being cleaned up.
I do t think it is any cleaner nor do I care. As long as the guys know when the test is they can beat it. Cung must be an idiot to test positive especially for HGH. Until there is constant random testing it will happen.
The question is why go through all the trouble and expense to stop PE’s? Current pre fight tests is enough to limit severe abuse. So UFC and other sports often avoid any negative effects. But the positives are numerous for the fan, fighter, and promoter. The stars add maybe 10 years to their career and we get a better product putting on better performances.
The whole level playing field arguement is BS. Over the years guys have been forced to spend their life’s in a gym to keep up with those who started lifting to get an advantage. It forced everyone to do it. PE’s IMO are another thing that might be a requirement to compete at the highest level just like all the other sacrifices top athletes make. Being it cardio, strength, nutrition, supplements, chiropractors, etc. why should PE’s be any different?
This isn’t true. They are going to start randomly blood testing everyone in camp. Doesn’t matter if you know when it is coming or not, I don’t see people beating those tests. Even Lance Armstrong admitted he couldn’t beat that type of testing.
Also, if you think the sport is better with the peds, it may be based on performance and longevity of some careers, but the danger for this is severe. This isn’t baseball where the worst thing that can happen is someone hits 10 more home runs each year. It is very dangerous when one guy is stacked beyond recognition and one guy is clean.
How many of Bisping’s opponents have tested positive? I feel like he’s had it worse than anyone else.
Looks like Bisping is 0-3 against TRT, yet 1-0 vs HGH 😛
More bad news hahaha
Man that TOPS is a annoying like a fly. what a little bitch.
It is t dangerous at the UFC level. Clean or not everyone will be able to handle thereselves safely. Been roiders since the start and no one is gettring hurt. Even back with larger gaps in ability in the old days with roided born fighters verses clean can drivers.
You don’t know what the long term affects are to many of the fighters-A number of them may wind up getting dementia at a premature age. There also have been plenty of severe injuries over the years in the ufc that have cut careers short due to severe health concerns, directly related to fighting. Guy Mezger is one good example. I would say it is still safer than football or boxing, but any time you have fighters jacked up on peds, it makes things a lot more dangerous and it is unnecessary.