Jeff Novitzky calls Islam Makhachev's 2016 positive drug test a "colossal mistake," blames USADA for entire ordeal
Jeff Novitzky, the UFC's Senior Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, cleared Islam Makhachev's name from a failed drug test in 2016.
On Saturday night, Makhachev looks to extend his legendary run by defending his lightweight title for the third time. The UFC's number one pound-for-pound fighter's next challenge will be against Dustin Poirier, who plans to pull off a landscape-changing win in the UFC 302 main event.
Before facing Poirier, Makhchev sat down with the media for the UFC 302 media day. The 32-year-old Russian was surprised by Novitzky with his commemorative jacket for surpassing fifty clean drug tests without failure. The only problem is he was temporarily suspended for testing positive for Meldonium.
Novitzky had this to say during the media day about Makhachev's failed drug test being a "colossal mistake" by USADA, which was transcribed by MMA Junkie:
"In 2016, USADA, who ran our program, put [Meldonium] on our prohibited list. Before that, you were allowed to use it. He had a medical procedure back in 2014. He submitted documents that he used it under that. Ultimately, he was cleared by USADA. But in my opinion, one of the greatest colossal mistakes in anti-doping. It affected not only Islam but several other UFC athletes and hundreds of other amateur Olympic athletes."
Watch Jeff Novitzky discuss Islam Makhachev's 2016 failed drug test below:
Makhachev hasn't been overly ridiculed for his failed drug test in recent years. With that said the UFC lightweight king is quickly entering the all-time greatest fighters ranks, which could be hindered by blemishes such as misunderstanding revolving Meldonium.
Novitzky had this to say about the situation, looking to clear the reigning lightweight champion's reputation at the UFC 302 media day:
"That's something that just cannot happen. That's something you can carry forward with you and your reputation forever. I'm here today to say that Islam absolutely did nothing wrong. This mistake was on the ant-doping authority, not him. It's very important to note that."
At UFC 302, Makhachev has an opportunity to further his legacy by taking out Dustin Poirier. It'll be easier said than done for the pound-for-pound king, as Poirier is riding momentum after securing a second-round knockout win against Benoit Saint-Denis earlier this year.
Watch highlights from Poirier vs. Saint-Denis below: