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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Cung Le and his manager have released a statement in the wake of the UFC rescinding his 12-month suspension based on further "medical advice" on the elevated HGH level shown in his post-fight drug test this August.
As the initial suspension suggested performance enhancing drug use - following up on public speculation into the event based on pictures of the 42-year-old - Le's reputation took a significant hit. Both he and his manager Gary Ibarra believe a formal apology from the UFC, at the very least, is in order.
Here's what the two had to say in a statement released on Thursday (via MMAJunkie.com).
Le:
"I am extremely happy with the UFC's decision to rescind my suspension. I believe the issues raised in regards to the testing procedures, as well as the manner in which the results were determined by the UFC, clearly support my assertion that I did not use any performance enhancing drugs. I am also happy to take away the fact that the UFC has decided to make the proper changes in their testing procedures, which will now ensure that no athlete will ever have to endure the same hardship. While I feel vindicated in this matter, the UFC's press release does little in the way of an apology of which I believe I am rightly owed after unfairly enduring the public's scrutiny. Their decision to announce me as a user of performance enhancing drugs with little thought to the accuracy of the testing or proper procedures has caused my family and I great pain that we have now come to know was completely unnecessary had the proper care been taken to ensure my test results were in fact valid proof of impropriety.
I would like to thank all of the people who supported me throughout this extremely trying time, the people and fans who have always supported me and also the people who reserved judgement until all of the facts of this matter were disclosed. I would also like to thank my MMA manager Gary Ibarra of the AMR Group and their attorney, Steve Pacitti, for their tireless work to prove my innocence, my wife and children for standing by me all the way and the multitude of journalists and fans who refused to allow this wrong to go unchecked."
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Ibarra:
"The AMR Group is also extremely happy with the UFC's decision to avoid arbitration and rescind their 12 month suspension of Cung Le. The evidence of my client's innocence was overwhelming in this instance, and the UFC's decision to forego any further action and exonerate him is proof positive of that. We hope that my client will not now forever be associated with illegal doping, especially now that he has been completely cleared of any wrongdoing.
Regardless of the UFC's decision, we are left to wonder if this whole matter should have ever happened at all but we do now know several things for certain: 1) my client did not take any performance enhancing drugs; 2) we questioned the propriety of the testing procedures before the UFC announced their initial suspension; 3) sports doping tests should be left to impartial third party experts; and 4) the UFC should have confirmed and evaluated my client's test results before dispensing discipline and making inaccurate statements that could permanently tarnish Cung's previously pristine reputation.
The absence of a formal apology, in light of the recent 'medical advice' the UFC received, which prompted them to lift his suspension, is outrageous. Moreover, the insinuation that my client will not be disciplined due to 'the [mere] lack of conclusive laboratory results,' is a clear attempt to deflect responsibility and cloud my client's innocence, when, in fact, the mistakes that were made resulted solely from the UFC's reckless and premature actions and decisions."
Penick's Analysis: The big issue with the response here is that the UFC's admission of improper procedures and faulty medical knowledge on the subject isn't in itself a complete exoneration for Le. The entire point of their statement was that there were other explanations for the elevated level of HGH, and based on the testing done, there was no way to prove that Le took anything. Le is adamant that he did not take anything whatsoever, and that absolutely may be the case. Then again, it still remains a possibility that it's not. And that's why the UFC reversing course still doesn't fully clear his name. That could lead to action from Le in this situation because of the irreparable damage done to his reputation, as the UFC was guilty of jumping the gun without proper protocols here. But again, while Le and his camp can say in this situation that there's no definitive proof of wrong-doing, the damage has already been done.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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