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Nate Diaz's Fight With Jorge Masvidal Is Back On After Doping Row

Nate Diaz's Fight With Jorge Masvidal Is Back On After Doping Row

The UFC fighter was cleared after being told he had tested with 'elevated levels'

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Nate Diaz has been cleared to fight in an upcoming UFC bout following suggestions he had failed a drug test.

The mixed martial artist will now take on Jorge Masvidal for the newly introduced 'BMF' title at Madison Square Gardens in New York.

The news was announced by UFC boss Dana White, who confirmed the fight would go ahead as planned.

Posting a promotional photo for the event, White said: "The fight is ON!!! I 100% knew Nate wasn't taking anything to cheat. #UFC244 November 2, MSG. #BMF."

A statement was also released by the UFC. It read: "Mr Diaz has not committed an anti-doping policy violation, has not been provisionally suspended and is not subject to any sanctions."

This comes after Diaz announced on Thursday (24 October) that he would not be fighting after being told his tests had allegedly shown 'elevated levels', potentially the result of 'some tainted supplements'.

At the time, the 34-year-old vehemently denied any wrongdoing, claiming he only took 'whole food or natural food supplements'.

At the time, Diaz's opponent came out in his defence and said he still wanted to fight him.

In a tweet, Masvidal said: "You not the baddest mofo in the game (i am) but you are one of the cleanest mofo's @NateDiaz209 I'll see you nov 2. I know your name is clean. I don't need @usantidoping to tell me s***!"

According to reports, UFC said an out-of-competition test carried out by the US Anti-Doping Authority (USADA) last week showed LGD-4033 been found in a small amount of the fighter's sample.

Diaz has been cleared to fight next week.
PA

LGD-4033 is a substance which can be used to increase a person's levels of testosterone.

However, despite the findings, UFC said the quantity found in Diaz's sample was 'roughly 10,000 times lower than one LGD-4033 therapeutic dose'.

UFC posted a statement which read said: "Further laboratory testing 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.

"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."

The body added: "Following Mr Diaz's public comments on Thursday we can confirm that he has not been sanctioned or provisionally suspended by USADA."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: SPORT, Nate Diaz, Entertainment, Interesting, US News, New York, UFC, Twitter, Dana White