Daniel Omielanczuk Accepts Finding of No Fault from USADA for Positive Meldonium Test
UFC heavyweight Daniel Omielanczuk won’t face suspension from USADA for a positive meldonium test that occurred last year.
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However, meldonium was not added to the banned list until 2016, and Omielanczuk was able to prove that he ingested the substance before that time.
“During USADA’s investigation of the case, Omielanczuk presented evidence establishing that his use of meldonium was limited to a three-week span, from mid-August to early September 2015. Omielanczuk and his advisors confirmed that Omielanczuk did not resume his use of the substance after September 2015 because they became aware that the substance would be added to the WADA Prohibited List in 2016, and subsequently banned under the UFC Anti-Doping Program,” the statement read.
“After a thorough review of the case, USADA concluded that the extremely low meldonium concentration in the athlete’s urine sample, combined with the available documentary evidence and the athlete’s explanation of use, was consistent with ingestion prior to the substance being officially prohibited on January 1, 2016. Accordingly, based on the results management guidance offered by WADA for cases involving meldonium, Omielanczuk will not face a period of ineligibility for his positive test.”
News of Omielanczuk’s positive test first came to light last summer, but he was allowed to remain on the UFC Fight Night 91 card in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he earned a majority decision over Alexey Oleynik on July 13. He also competed at UFC 204 in October, losing to Stefan Struve via second round submission. The 34-year-old Warsaw native is currently booked to face Timothy Johnson at UFC Fight Night 107 in London on March 18.
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