JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Islam Makhachev’s 2016 constructive drug take a look at was a failure, however extra so by the system than the athlete. That’s in response to UFC senior vp of anti-doping compliance Jeff Novitzky.
Throughout Wednesday’s UFC 302 media day, Novitzky offered Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) with a 50-time good take a look at jacket. Earlier than doing so, nevertheless, he defined why Makhachev’s drug take a look at failure eight years in the past forward of a scheduled battle vs. Drew Dober shouldn’t be held in opposition to the UFC light-weight champion.
“Islam did have a problem again in 2016. I really talked with him and his group final week and I mentioned, ‘I believe we have to convey this up.’ They usually agreed.”
Makhachev was 24 on the time, and pulled from the cardboard throughout UFC on FOX 16 weigh-ins day. Then-UFC anti-doping accomplice USADA suspended Makhachev for 3 months, although mentioned he was “with out fault or negligence” as a result of Makhachev took Meldonium after a problem with frequent ventricular arrhythmia.
“In 2016, USADA, who ran our program, put it on our prohibited listing,” Novitzky mentioned about Meldonium. “Earlier than that, you have been allowed to make use of it. He had a medical process again in 2014. He submitted paperwork that he used it underneath that. In the end, he was cleared by USADA. However for my part, one of many biggest, colossal errors in anti-doping. It affected not solely Islam however a number of different UFC athletes and tons of of different newbie Olympic athletes.
“That’s one thing that simply can’t occur. That’s one thing you possibly can carry ahead with you and your status without end. I’m right here at this time at this time to say that Islam completely did nothing improper. This error was on the anti-doping authority, not him. It’s crucial to notice that.”
The UFC and USADA have since break up, in a really public and considerably aggravated parting of the way on the conclusion of 2023. The present UFC anti-doping program is run by former FBI agent George Piro.
Makhachev has no historical past of drug take a look at failures exterior of the 2016 failure. He fights Dustin Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 302 fundamental occasion at Prudential Middle.
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