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UFC 244: Nate Diaz cleared by Usada to fight Jorge Masvidal for ‘BMF’ title after failing drugs test
- Usada rules Diaz has not committed an anti-doping violation
- Elevated levels of SARMS in positive test traced to contaminated organic, vegan, plant-based multivitamin
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Nate Diaz has been cleared by Usada to fight Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244.
The Madison Square Garden main event for the “BMF” title was plunged into doubt on Thursday after Diaz was informed he had tested positive for elevated levels of SARMS, or selective androgen receptor modulators, which have similar properties to anabolic agents.
Diaz put the positive test down to tainted supplements but railed against Usada in an angry statement on Twitter, writing a representative of the UFC’s official anti-doping partner had suggested he “keep it quiet”.
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He is set to fly into New York on Saturday, but has not confirmed whether he will still fight.
UFC chief legal officer Hunter Campbell told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto he has “every reason to believe” Diaz will compete on November 2.
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“The fight is ON!!!” tweeted UFC president Dana White. “I 100 per cent knew Nate wasn’t taking anything to cheat.”
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