The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has cleared UFC welterweight Muslim Salikhov in an anti-doping case very similar to the high-profile one of Jon Jones.
The UFC and USADA confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that Salikhov, of Russia, will not be sanctioned after testing positive multiple times for a long-lasting metabolite of oral turinabol. Salikhov, who was placed under provisional suspension last June, is eligible to return to competition immediately.
Salikhov (14-2) tested positive for a small amount of the M3 metabolite on June 7. During an ensuing adjudication process, Salikhov was tested an additional six times. Two of those tests produced a positive result for the M3 metabolite, while three came back negative. None of the tests showed any presence of the parent drug, which is an anabolic steroid.
"Due to the pattern of negative and positive findings and the known extended excretion time of this particular long-term metabolite, USADA concluded that recent ingestion was highly unlikely and that Salikhov retained no performance benefits based on the low-level presence of the long-term metabolite," the UFC stated in a press release. "Based on the dismissal of pending charges by USADA, Salikhov has been cleared to compete immediately."
The case is extremely similar to that of Jones (24-1), who first tested positive for the M3 metabolite in July 2017. Jones was ultimately suspended 15 months for that positive test, and fined $205,000. A knockout victory against Daniel Cormier on July 29 was also changed to a no-contest.
Since then, Jones has tested positive multiple times for the M3 metabolite, but never the parent drug. He has also submitted tests that were negative of the M3 metabolite. Multiple experts have testified the evidence suggests a potential "pulsing" effect, in which the metabolite can disappear and reappear in an individual's system without ever re-administering its parent drug.
Jones has since been cleared to continue his career, despite the presence of the banned metabolite. He is currently subject to drug testing by USADA, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) and the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In addition to Jones and Salikhov, UFC athlete Grant Dawson is also involved in a similar case. The original source of the M3 metabolite has not been identified in any of the three cases.