"USADA ultimately ruled that Makhachev's testing failure stemmed from a "radiofrequency ablation procedure for frequent ventricular arrhythmia" the fighter underwent in Dec. 2014. As part of a follow-up treatment plan, Makhachev's physician recommended the fighter take meldonium "as a preventive measure against a potential relapse" in Nov. 2015. Makhachev then took meldonium for four weeks but stopped his use prior to Jan. 1 2016, the date meldonium was added to the WADA banned substance list."
"After a thorough review of the case, USADA concluded that the extremely low meldonium concentration in the athlete's urine sample, combined with the athlete's explanation of use, was consistent with ingestion prior to the substance being officially prohibited on January 1, 2016," the organization announced in a statement. "