Augusto Montano’s name was added to the increasingly growing list of athletes who have tested positive for clenbuterol. And after an investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, he will suffer no sanctions.
Montano’s (15-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) home country of Mexico has suffered seemingly routine contamination from clenbuterol. That fact, which USADA has issued prior warnings about, led to the agency’s decision to pursue no sanctions for the 31-year-old fighter.
“While the risk of consuming clenbuterol-tainted meat and testing positive for an athlete is extremely small, consistent with past athlete advisories, USADA reminds athletes to use the utmost care if eating meat in known high-risk countries, including Mexico and China,” USADA said in a statement on its handling of Montano’s case. “In line with WADA recommendations, USADA will continue to assess the presence of clenbuterol in an athlete’s sample on a case by case basis, taking into account all the evidence supporting the likelihood of such contamination.”
After stopping Chris Heatherly with strikes in his UFC debut, Montano lost a unanimous decision to Cathal Pendred at UFC 188.
He will be allowed to fight Belal Muhammad as planned at UFC Fight Night 94, which takes place Sept. 17 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. The card airs on FS1 following prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
