Islam Makhachev has tested positive for a banned substance according to USADA and his fight with Drew Dober has been taken off Saturday’s UFC on Fox 19 card. The news came after Makhachev missed weight at the weigh-ins Friday in Tampa, Florida.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reported the news first. Bloody Elbow adds that the banned substance Makhachev tested for was meldonium. If that sounds familiar, women’s tennis star Maria Sharapova admitted that she had failed a drug test at this year’s Australian Open due to the use of the drug.
Among the benefits of the drug, it improves exercise capacity to athletes.
The UFC has issued a statement on the Makhachev finding:
“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. 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.
Payout Perspective:
Makhachev becomes the second fighter to be taken off this card as Lyoto Machida was found to have taken the banned substance 7-Keto. The banned substance is somewhat controversial as WADA is taking a second look at meldonium. Regardless, the finding is another disappointment for this card but at least USADA is doing its job.
Good to see a sport that cares about catching cheaters. Another one bites the dust!
How bout paying right? Hahahaha
They pay more in sponsorship money than Pacquaio undercard fighters make in purse money. $1,500???
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Pacquiao card fighters will also make more than any ufc fighter will.
Oops
How many does that make this week? Shameful on the part of the fighters, absolutely shameful…..but well done to the USADA and UFC corporate for wanting to clean up their organization of PED usage
Felix Sturm of Germany failed his drug test big time today in the world of boxing, and Lucas Browne who recently won the WBA Heavyweight Championship also failed his so the Sweet Science is doing its part as well. Lifetime bans I say…..either fight clean or lose your part in your respective sport.
Seems according to experts usada deal still has many loopholes its not 24/7 olympic testing and its random on who to test and yet so many positive results….means diaz bros might be right….hahahaha
A new star is born…errol spence….140 and 147 is stacked!
“Pacquiao card fighters will also make more than any ufc fighter will.
Oops”
How did you convince yourself this was true?
Hahaha.
“A new star is born…errol spence….140 and 147 is stacked!”
He’s sold a lot of ppvs. Hahahahaha.
$1,500 for Pacquaio undercard fighters……Reebok money all of a sudden, looks massive. Hahahahahahaha.
Thurman,porter,khan,garcia,brook,spence,bradley,mthys,prvdnkov……broner,crawford,postol,mikey garcia, stacked!! Good 3 years just fighting each other hahahaha….pac may 2 should be for next yr….this boxers need the spotlight
http://fightstate.com/fedor-says-that-ufc-fighters-are-like-slaves/
http://fightstate.com/dana-white-insulted-an-american-hero-for-talking-about-fighter-pay/….pathetic cheapie promotion hahaha
Dw acts like d when confronted with fighter pay….kennedy should sign with the lawsuit hahaha
Join i mean
Tops runs for the hills when actual boxing fighter pay is released….$1,500. That’s half of Reebok sponsorship money. Street performers make more money. Cheap, cheap, cheap!! Hahahahahahahaha!!!!
Boxing fans have this pipe dream that Mayweather will fight Pacquaio again…I guess they can dream. Never happening. Hahahahahahahaha. Poor man’s ppv’s ahead. Hahahaha. Paper champs like Canelo, who’s going to get exposed and then what?? Hahahaha.
All evidence of ufc.low pay comes from fighters themselves hahahaha…good thing kennedy is not backing down….hahaha
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=poqWJfLAlq8
$1,500…ppv fighters in boxing. Hahahahahaha!!!!
Oh tim kennedy said ufc might be sold….d wont touch that topic with flash and new cfo hahaha…he is not allowed….is d a paid ufc troll?hahahaha