The UFC announced this evening that middleweight Cung Le tested positive for HGH following his gruesome defeat at the hands of Michael Bisping at UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau last month. This is especially hilarious because of how adamant Le was before the fight about how he wasn’t using PEDs; that photo of him looking like the Incredible damn Hulk (see above, right) was just the result of hard work and good lighting and clean living and more assorted bullshit. Cung Le is a liar, and he’ll be punished for it. Here’s the full statement from the UFC:
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 announced this evening that middleweight Cung Le tested positive for HGH following his gruesome defeat at the hands of Michael Bisping at UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau last month. This is especially hilarious because of how adamant Le was before the fight about how he wasn’t using PEDs; that photo of him looking like the Incredible damn Hulk (see above, right) was just the result of hard work and good lighting and clean living and more assorted bullshit. Cung Le is a liar, and he’ll be punished for it. Here’s the full statement from the UFC:
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.
I have three things to say about this…
1) As I wrote before the Bisping/Le fight, when it was announced that both fighters would be undergoing enhanced drug testing: “Of course, we probably won’t get the results of these tests until weeks after the fact, which does absolutely nothing to prevent potential cheaters from competing…if all these drug tests are timed so that big fights still get to proceed as scheduled, it doesn’t reflect well on the UFC’s priorities, or how serious they are about eradicating the PED epidemic.” Yep. Punishment clearly isn’t enough of a deterrent. The UFC needs to find a way to sift out the cheaters before they get into the cage.
2) Michael Bisping should earn an honorary spot in the UFC Hall of Fame for fighting the most confirmed drug users. I mean, good Lord: Chris Leben, Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, and now Cung Le? And I’m not even including Wanderlei Silva and Dan Henderson, who became the subject of PED/drug-testing controversies after Bisping fought them.
3) Cung Le will be 43 years old when he comes back from his suspension. He couldn’t beat a upper-mid-level contender when he had chemical help, and he’ll be even worse off without his medicine. Dude, just retire.
UFC middleweight Mike King tested positive for nandrolone following his bout against Cathal Pendred at UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs. Brandao on July 19, 2014. He was informed that his positive test 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. He agreed to serve a 9-month suspension retroactive to the event and must pass a drug test before receiving clearance to compete again. He will forfeit his $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus.
King, an Ohio native, came into his official UFC debut with a pro record of 5-0. He becomes the second UFC fighter to test positive for steroids this year, following Kevin Casey, who also pissed hot in July.
UFC middleweight Mike King tested positive for nandrolone following his bout against Cathal Pendred at UFC Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs. Brandao on July 19, 2014. He was informed that his positive test 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. He agreed to serve a 9-month suspension retroactive to the event and must pass a drug test before receiving clearance to compete again. He will forfeit his $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus.
King, an Ohio native, came into his official UFC debut with a pro record of 5-0. He becomes the second UFC fighter to test positive for steroids this year, following Kevin Casey, who also pissed hot in July.
(“Dear God, please let the lab lose my sample.” / Photo via MMAJunkie)
Recent flyweight title challenger Ali Bagautinov has been suspended for one year following a positive test for erythropoietin (EPO), a unapproved hormone that increases red blood cell production. (See also: Lance Armstrong, Chael Sonnen.) The British Columbia Athletic Commission on Thursday confirmed the news today.
Bagautinov failed a random drug test that was administered on June 2nd, 12 days before his unanimous decision loss to Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174 in Vancouver. As BCAC Commissioner Dave Maedel explained (via MMAJunkie):
“These results were not available prior to the UFC 174 event due to lab processing times…I have suspended Mr. Bagautinov’s licence to compete in British Columbia for a period of one year.”
So not only was UFC 174 the poorest-selling PPV in nine years, it also produced one more victim of MMA’s newest supervillain — the random drug-test. Seriously, increased drug testing is wiping out high-profile fighters left and right lately, which tells you all you need to know about how widespread the doping problem is in this sport. Keep fighting the good fight, athletic commissions.
(“Dear God, please let the lab lose my sample.” / Photo via MMAJunkie)
Recent flyweight title challenger Ali Bagautinov has been suspended for one year following a positive test for erythropoietin (EPO), a unapproved hormone that increases red blood cell production. (See also: Lance Armstrong, Chael Sonnen.) The British Columbia Athletic Commission on Thursday confirmed the news today.
Bagautinov failed a random drug test that was administered on June 2nd, 12 days before his unanimous decision loss to Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174 in Vancouver. As BCAC Commissioner Dave Maedel explained (via MMAJunkie):
“These results were not available prior to the UFC 174 event due to lab processing times…I have suspended Mr. Bagautinov’s licence to compete in British Columbia for a period of one year.”
So not only was UFC 174 the poorest-selling PPV in nine years, it also produced one more victim of MMA’s newest supervillain — the random drug-test. Seriously, increased drug testing is wiping out high-profile fighters left and right lately, which tells you all you need to know about how widespread the doping problem is in this sport. Keep fighting the good fight, athletic commissions.
(First hypogonadism, and now breast cancer? Poor guy can’t catch a break. / Photo via Getty)
As first broken by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, UFC fighter/FOX Sports analyst Chael Sonnen has been pulled from his scheduled UFC 175 fight against Vitor Belfort, after a random drug test administered last month in Las Vegas came back positive for a pair of illegal hormone regulators.
Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar confirmed that Sonnen’s test showed the presence of Anastrozole and Clomiphene. Anastrozole is a non-steroidal estrogen-blocker used primarily to treat women following breast cancer surgery, as well as in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Clomiphene is an selective estrogen receptor commonly used as a fertility drug to induce ovulation, and is used to treat men who are coming off testosterone replacement therapy, as Sonnen was. Clomiphene is also the drug that jiu-jitsu champion Gabi Garcia was busted for following the 2013 BJJ World Championships.
According to ESPN, Sonnen likely faces a suspension, and is not expected to file an appeal. Sonnen is scheduled to address his drug-test failure today on FOX. We’ll keep you updated.
From the information we have, it appears that Sonnen was trying to get his body’s testosterone production back to normal, and couldn’t quite do it without some extra help. (Perhaps getting off TRT cold-turkey and returning to fighting shape so quickly was an impossible task in the first place.) A forced time-out might be the best thing for Sonnen’s health at this point; then again, it could also signal the end of his career. The question is, will Vitor Belfort remain on the UFC 175 card? And if so, against who?
(First hypogonadism, and now breast cancer? Poor guy can’t catch a break. / Photo via Getty)
As first broken by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, UFC fighter/FOX Sports analyst Chael Sonnen has been pulled from his scheduled UFC 175 fight against Vitor Belfort, after a random drug test administered last month in Las Vegas came back positive for a pair of illegal hormone regulators.
Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar confirmed that Sonnen’s test showed the presence of Anastrozole and Clomiphene. Anastrozole is a non-steroidal estrogen-blocker used primarily to treat women following breast cancer surgery, as well as in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Clomiphene is an selective estrogen receptor commonly used as a fertility drug to induce ovulation, and is used to treat men who are coming off testosterone replacement therapy, as Sonnen was. Clomiphene is also the drug that jiu-jitsu champion Gabi Garcia was busted for following the 2013 BJJ World Championships.
According to ESPN, Sonnen likely faces a suspension, and is not expected to file an appeal. Sonnen is scheduled to address his drug-test failure today on FOX. We’ll keep you updated.
From the information we have, it appears that Sonnen was trying to get his body’s testosterone production back to normal, and couldn’t quite do it without some extra help. (Perhaps getting off TRT cold-turkey and returning to fighting shape so quickly was an impossible task in the first place.) A forced time-out might be the best thing for Sonnen’s health at this point; then again, it could also signal the end of his career. The question is, will Vitor Belfort remain on the UFC 175 card? And if so, against who?
“As I always said I have nothing to hide from anyone,” Belfort ironically wrote on Instagram, after four months of hiding his February test results and a year-and-a-half of dodging questions about his TRT usage. “I am releasing my statement along with all my [private] test results. Looking forward to get my license in Nevada and fight in July. Thank you all!”
In anticipation for my hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), I want to address questions concerning a drug test I took back on February 7, 2014, that was requested by the NSAC.
At the time that test was taken, I was considering filing for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) from the NSAC. While I had not made formal application for a TUE, the NSAC nonetheless requested I take the test and I willingly complied. I further confirmed to the NSAC, in writing, the widely known fact that I was then presently on TRT and had been for many years leading up to that test and that I had further taken the TRT dosage recommended by my doctors the day prior.
“As I always said I have nothing to hide from anyone,” Belfort ironically wrote on Instagram, after four months of hiding his February test results and a year-and-a-half of dodging questions about his TRT usage. “I am releasing my statement along with all my [private] test results. Looking forward to get my license in Nevada and fight in July. Thank you all!”
In anticipation for my hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), I want to address questions concerning a drug test I took back on February 7, 2014, that was requested by the NSAC.
At the time that test was taken, I was considering filing for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) from the NSAC. While I had not made formal application for a TUE, the NSAC nonetheless requested I take the test and I willingly complied. I further confirmed to the NSAC, in writing, the widely known fact that I was then presently on TRT and had been for many years leading up to that test and that I had further taken the TRT dosage recommended by my doctors the day prior.
The results of the February 7, 2014, test indicated that my testosterone level was above the therapeutic range. While levels slightly outside the normal therapeutic range are not uncommon for some undergoing a TRT regimen, and my doctors immediately modified my therapy to return me to within the therapeutic range (as you can see the 22nd February test results was normal), I do want to acknowledge that the February 7, 2014 test indicated my level was above the range.
Since that February 7, 2014 test, I have taken several subsequent tests, in late February, March, April and May, and the results of each test indicate my levels were either normal or below normal. To avoid any ambiguity, I am releasing, along with this statement, the results of all the test noted above and will provide the same to NSCA for their consideration as part of my licensing application. I further welcome any additional testing that the NSAC deems appropriate and necessary with respect to being granted the privilege of a license to fight here in the State of Nevada.
Shortly thereafter, on February 27, 2014, the NSAC banned all TRT and I stopped my TRT treatment that very same day. Now that I am applying for a license in Nevada, I don’t want any clouds hanging over my ability to compete and I understand it is my responsibility to prove to the NSAC that I have the requisite fitness to be licensed in Nevada.
I truly appreciate and thank the Commission for considering my application, and I look forward to providing any information and answering any questions that the NSAC might have on June 17. And if the NSAC sees fit to grant my application, I look forward to fighting on July 5, 2014 in Las Vegas and again proving that I am one of the best fighters in the world.
At this point the UFC’s only official statement is the following update on its website: “The UFC organization supports Vitor Belfort’s application for a license to compete in Nevada, and we respect the Nevada Athletic Commission and its licensing process. Pending Commission approval, we look forward to a great fight between Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen at UFC 175 on July 5.”
Fun fact, via MookieAlexander: “Today’s Vitor news means Anderson Silva has faced an incredible 7 different opponents who have failed a UFC drug test. That would be: Chris Leben (2x offender), Nate Marquardt (2x), James Irvin, Forrest Griffin, Chael Sonnen, Vitor, & Stephan Bonnar (2x). Marquardt counts as a 2x offender because he couldn’t get his levels down in time for the Story fight, which is why he pulled out.”
(Dennis Siver celebrates healthy testicles. / Photo via Getty)
Dennis Siver has failed his UFC 168 drug test. The Russian-German fighter tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). For those not in the know, the drug is typically used post-steroid cycle. Its purpose is to restore the size of the testicles and kickstart testosterone production.
(Dennis Siver celebrates healthy testicles. / Photo via Getty)
Dennis Siver has failed his UFC 168 drug test. The Russian-German fighter tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). For those not in the know, the drug is typically used post-steroid cycle. Its purpose is to restore the size of the testicles and kickstart testosterone production.
A suspension and fine are almost definitely on their way for Siver, whose UFC 168 win over Manny Gamburyan will probably become a no contest as well.
This is an unfortunate development for the UFC, as Siver is one of their top European fighters and the company’s international efforts are more important than ever before. The tarnishing of Siver’s reputation and losing him for any length of time will be a detriment.
