Gasanov pulled from UFC bout over banned substance detected in system

Magomedrasul Gasanov has been removed from his scheduled fight against Abubakar Vagaev after a substance in his system raised concerns with UFC. According to Gasanov's sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov provided documentation of all substances taken over the past six months and tested clean, but the UFC flagged a particular compound that stays in the body for an extended period and ordered him to be retested. Aliskerov compared the situation to the meldonium cases that affected several Russian athletes, including Islam Makhachev, suggesting the substance may have been a legitimate supplement that lingers long after use.