The UFC 244 main event matchup between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will proceed as scheduled.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) ruled that Nate Diaz did not commit an anti-doping rules violation, despite an atypical finding in an out-of-competition test taken in October. Diaz tested positive for trace amounts of LGD-4033 (Ligandrol), a prohibited Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM), but it was determined by independent experts that there was "no appreciable performance enhancing or therapeutic benefit" from the limited amount present in his system.
After being informed of the adverse drug-test finding, Diaz
took to social media to defend himself and announced he was not going to fight in New York on November 2. Many fighters, including his opponent Masvidal, defended Diaz.
Well on Friday, Diaz was cleared to compete. The UFC
posted a lengthy explanation regarding the anti-doping policy.
On October 24, 2019, Nate Diaz released a public statement regarding a recent out-of-competition test conducted by USADA. UFC has been notified by USADA that the out-of-competition test concluded that LGD-4033 was present in Mr. Diaz’s sample at an amount below the decision concentration level for this substance. USADA is reviewing the out-of-competition test as an atypical finding. Further laboratory testing conducted by the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory (SMRTL), a WADA-accredited lab in Salt Lake City, Utah, has confirmed that two bottles of the same organic, vegan, plant-based daily multivitamin that Mr. Diaz was using were each contaminated with LGD-4033, which the evidence supports resulted in Mr. Diaz’s positive sample.
Mr. Diaz has not committed an anti-doping policy violation, has not been provisionally suspended and is not subject to any sanctions. Additionally, UFC has been informed by independent experts who have determined that there is unequivocally no appreciable performance enhancing or therapeutic benefit from the significantly limited amount of LGD-4033 that may be present in his system, which is roughly 10,000 times lower than one LGD-4033 therapeutic dose.
"The fight is ON!!!," UFC president Dana White
tweeted Friday.
"I 100 percent knew Nate wasn't taking anything to cheat."
Diaz has not yet commented on the ruling, but assuming he's back on board fans will finally be treated to one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. Both Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will be competing for the mythical UFC title of "Baddest Motherf---er."
UFC 244 will be held on November 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.