UFC Lifts Cung Le’s 12-Month Suspension Due to Inconclusive Lab Results

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship has rescinded Cung Le’s year-long suspension.

A post-fight drug test following Le’s loss to Michael Bisping at UFC Fight Night in Macau on Aug. 23 revealed that Le tested positive for an excess level of HGH. Le was initially handed a nine-month suspension, but the UFC later updated that term to 12 months. The middleweight was also required to pass a drug screening before he could compete in the Octagon again.

Shortly thereafter, Le released a statement disputing the results and questioning the testing procedures utilized by the UFC, which performed the tests because China has no athletic commission to oversee the event.

The 42-year-old Strikeforce veteran planned to appeal the suspension. Had it gone to a third-party arbitrator, it would have been the first time an appeal was filed following a drug test ordered by the UFC.

However, the UFC later determined that Le’s elevated HGH level alone did not necessarily indicate that he took performance enhancing drugs prior to his matchup with Bisping. Due to a lack of conclusive laboratory results, the promotion lifted Le’s suspension.

The UFC’s full statement on the matter is as follows:

At UFC Fight Night Macao on August 23rd, UFC contracted with an independent drug testing laboratory in Hong Kong to perform urinalysis testing on all fighters on the card. Additionally, UFC requested the laboratory to test blood samples from 4 fighters for human growth hormone (HGH), erythropoietin (EPO) and testosterone.

One of the athletes who had his blood tested was Cung Le. The laboratory results from Le’s blood test were sent to the UFC and showed that his blood had a total HGH level outside the reference range. Based on such results, UFC officials determined that Le had violated his promotional agreement and the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. Consequently, UFC decided that Le should be suspended from unarmed combat competition for 12 months.

Following the announcement of Le’s suspension, UFC officials have been provided with medical advice regarding the elevated total HGH present in Le’s system. In accordance with such medical advice, UFC has determined that Le’s elevated total HGH by itself does not prove that he took performance-enhancing drugs before the August 23rd bout. As a result, UFC has informed Le that his suspension is rescinded.

Le had requested an appeal of his suspension, and was entitled to arbitrate the drug test results and suspension. However, based on the lack of conclusive laboratory results, UFC officials deemed it appropriate to immediately rescind the suspension without the need for further proceedings.

The UFC organization has always been a leader when it comes to testing for performance-enhancing drugs in combat sports. All UFC athletes know they are subject to drug testing by an applicable state athletic commission, an international governing federation, or by an independent laboratory contracted by the UFC when no regulatory body is overseeing the event. In those cases where regulatory oversight is unavailable, UFC voluntarily chooses to adhere to the highest level of athlete health and safety protocols similar to if the event were being held in the state of Nevada.