Back in July of 2018, UFC fighter Muslim Salikhov was notified of a potential violation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and was provincially suspended.
However, it would appear that the fighter has been cleared by USADA according to MMA Fighting and that may be due to a similar case involving UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.
Salikhov has been tested six times since the potential drug testing violation and it has been determined that the fighter has trace amounts of a long-term metabolite in his system, which is similar to what Jones has been dealing with.
“USADA determined based on looking at all those data points, based on learning about this M3 metabolite probably within the last year, they’re unable to meet the burden of showing that however that got in his system — and I don’t think there’s any question that at some point it got in his system — but they’re unable to show that whenever it got in his system was during USADA jurisdiction,” said UFC Vice President Of Athlete Health & Performance Jeff Novitzky.
Here is a look at Salikhov’s drug testing history via MMA Fighting, from November of 2017 to February of 2018:
Nov. 7, 2017: Negative
March 12, 2018: Negative
April 14, 2018: Negative
June 7, 2018: M3 (8 pg/mL)
July 18, 2018: Negative
Oct. 16, 2018 M3 (8 pg/mL)
Dec. 8, 2018: Negative
Dec. 8, 2018: Negative
Dec. 8, 2018: M3 (4 pg/mL)
Feb. 7, 2018: Negative
A cleared Salikhov is able to return to action immediately and will face no further sanctions from the UFC or USADA on the matter.
