USADA Determines Li Jingliang’s Positive Test Result Came from Contaminated Meat

On August 23, welterweight Li Jingliang was notified by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency of a potential policy violation stemming from his July 8 fight against Anton Zafir on The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale preliminary card.

Jingliang, 28, tested positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol during an out-of-competition test administered on May 18. Clenbuterol is an Anabolic Agent prohibited at all times. After an investigation, USADA determined that Jingliang’s positive test was a result of him ingesting the substance “without fault or negligence.” Due to the findings, Jingliang will not receive a suspension.

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“During its investigation into the circumstances that led to the positive test, USADA interviewed Jingliang and reviewed all available relevant evidence, including Jingliang’s whereabouts, dietary habits, and the laboratory reports demonstrating very low parts per billion concentrations of the prohibited substance in the athlete’s urine sample. USADA concluded that the presence of clenbuterol in the athlete’s sample very likely resulted from clenbuterol contaminated meat consumed in China,” read a statement on the USADA website.

There have been numerous previous reports globally of athletes testing positive to clenbuterol from ingesting contaminated meat from animals that were administered the substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has issued warnings about the issue specifically in China and Mexico.

Jingliang’s knockout win over Zafir will stand because a sample collected by the Nevada Athletic Commission on fight night was negative.

USADA recent issued no-fault findings to Augusto Montano and Ning Guangyou, who also tested positive to trace amounts of clenbuterol.

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