ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Vicente Luque doesn’t believe Neil Magny intentionally cheated despite failing a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug test that canceled their planned UFC on ESPN+ 10 co-headliner.
Just five days’ out from Saturday’s card, Magny (21-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) was informed of a potential doping violation by USADA. It caused him to be removed from the welterweight co-headliner with Luque (15-6-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Derrick Krantz (24-10 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on short notice.
Originally Magny was ruled out of the card for undisclosed reasons, but soon after the fighter put out on a statement on social media revealing the situation was brought on by the failed test. Magny immediately claimed no wrongdoing and pointed to a potential tainted supplement, which has been the source of many of the UFC’s doping cases.
Luque didn’t expect Magny to be in such a circumstance, but he said he believes the pledge of innocence.
“I was kind of surprised,” Luque told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ESPN+ 10 media day. “He doesn’t look like a guy that kind of does any illegal things. At the same time he said that it was probably something accidental and I believe him. I hope he can resolve that and I’m all for USADA. I like the system that USADA tests us and keeps the sport clean. These things happen sometimes, but usually it gets clarified and it’s not going to be a big deal hopefully.”
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Luque, who said he’s focusing on the positives of fighting replacement opponent Krantz rather than a top-15 opponent, may have faith in USADA, but he does look at Magny’s situation as a learning lesson. He has never had an issue of his own and said he’s a clean athlete, but always makes sure to do everything in his power to avoid being in the place where Magny finds himself.
This is just another reminder.
“I’m always checking,” Luque said. “I tried taking the same supplements I’ve been taking since the start of the program so I kind of stick with the same ones and whenever I’m going to change I’m going with logos that are approved by USADA. There isn’t much we can do, so when I am tested I make sure to list all the supplements I am taking so that if anything happens by accident, they will know what I took and can test it. But that’s all I can do. I’m confident. I just don’t use supplements that can do anything else so I’m confident I’m not going to have problems with that.”
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