Tainted meat blamed for UFC middleweight’s test failure
Another UFC fighter failed a drug test issued by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
Ning Guangyou, however, will not face discipline for the transgression.
USADA, which independently administers the UFC’s anti-doping program, determined Guangyou consumed clenbuterol “without fault or negligence.”
He received a no-fault sanction and was not issued any period of ineligibility.
The 34-year-old middleweight had been scheduled to fight Marlon Vera at UFC 202 on Aug. 20 at T-Mobile Arena. That bout was pushed back to the UFC on Fox event on Aug. 27 in Vancouver in order for the investigation to be completed.
Guangyou was tested out-of-competition on May 19 in his native China. UFC officials were made aware of the positive test in late July when USADA began its investigation into the source of the trace amounts clenbuterol found in his sample.
According to a news release issued by USADA on Tuesday, China has been identified as a high-risk country for contaminated meat.
“USADA reviewed all of the evidence, including the athlete’s whereabouts, dietary habits, and the laboratory reports demonstrating very low parts per billion concentrations of the prohibited substance in the athlete’s urine sample, and concluded that the presence of clenbuterol in the athlete’s sample very likely resulted from clenbuterol contaminated meat consumed in China,” the release said. “As a result, Guangyou will not face a period of ineligibility for his positive test.
Positive results for clenbuterol, which is an anabolic agent on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
WADA has issued specific warnings about the issue in China and Mexico.
USADA indicated it is not aware of any cases of meat consumed in the United States triggering a positive test for clenbuterol.
Guangyou won his first two fights in the UFC before dropping a split decision to Marco Beltran in November. All three of his bouts have been contested in Asia.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.
