With just days to go until the event, Neil Magny was reported as being out of UFC Rochester. On Tuesday, we found out why, and who is stepping in to take his place.
UFC welterweight Neil Magny, who had been set to co-headline UFC Rochester this weekend, has announced that a failed USADA drug test has resulted in him being pulled from the card. Magny announced the news himself on social media, as USADA no longer announces failed drug tests until the adjudication process is complete. Additionally, it was reported Wednesday that LFA’s Derrick Krantz had stepped up to replace Magny against Vincente Luque. Krantz revealed the news on social media as well.
In the case of Magny (21-7), who has fought some of the toughest opponents out there in the welterweight division, the news comes as a shock. In a statement on Instagram, Magny revealed that USADA had informed him that he had failed a drug test due to the presence of the banned substance Di-Hydroxy-LGD-4033. He added that he was cooperating with the Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy. He added that “I have faith in USADA that I will be cleared of any wrong doing” before addressing his supporters, thanking them and saying “I assure you that I have not let you down.”
LGD 4033 is an SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) designed to help with muscle loss and osteoporosis. It has also become a preferred alternative to traditional steroids, as the limited amount of research done on the substance shows fewer side effects.
Magny last fought at UFC Argentina in November, losing to Santiago Ponzinibbio in the main event.
Krantz (24-10), meanwhile, steps into a big opportunity at UFC Rochester. He had been expected to appear on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series this summer. Instead, he jumps right into the deep end against Luque. Krantz has won two straight bouts, most recently finishing Justin Patterson by knock out LFA 63 in March.
UFC Rochester (UFC Fight Night 152) takes place May 18 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY.
