Morning Report: Cung Le happy to appeal drug test result after 'taking a pounding and getting called a cheater'

With news that the UFC will give him the chance to appeal his one-year suspension after testing positive for excess levels of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), middleweight Cung Le maintains the result was due to flawed testing methods.

"I'm glad I'm able to appeal and am very confident," Le told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times. "The facts are out there. If the right test had been done, this would have never happened."

After suffering a fourth-round stoppage to Michael Bisping Aug. 23 in Macao, China, blood samples from both fighters were shipped to the Hong Kong Functional Medicine Testing Center. Experts have questioned Le's result, believing the UFC's testing protocol didn't meet World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.

"This is new to everyone -- to the UFC, obviously -- and I'm happy to now have the chance I deserve to appeal after taking a pounding and getting called a cheater by people who've never researched my career or taken note that it was spotless before this," said Le.

Aside from the questionable procedural testing Le's sample undertook once it landed in Hong Kong, another major point of contention is when the fighter's blood was drawn.

According to Le's manager Gary Ibarra, who cited recent studies from the British and American Journals of Sports Medicine, 'HGH levels tested post-exertion show up to a 500x increase naturally.'

"My levels were high because I was in recovery mode," said Le. "They pull me into the drug testing room, telling me to test. I'm bleeding all over the place and they haven't started stitching me up yet. They clean me up a little ... I had three cuts on my face. The lady starts sticking me, having a hard time finding a vein. I look down, a stream of blood is flying off my arm. My urine was completely bloody because of my eye injury, I had bruised ribs ... you think the body wouldn't be under stress?"

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Hometown shot. Rory MacDonald will get the next title shot against either UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks or Robbie Lawler.

The original UFC champ. Royce Gracie was announced on Wednesday as the new official brand ambassador for Bellator.

Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas talks Rory MacDonald's next step, Cung Le's drug test, Rick Story's win, Bellator 128 and more in this week's live chat.

Trouble in Asia. Disagreements over how best to market to the region are creating ongoing tensions between the UFC's American and Asian offices.

Options. Former pro wrestling announcer Jim Ross believes Brock Lesnar could return to fighting after his contract with WWE expires in March. 'He's just scary looking. He's more scary looking than he was before he left [WWE the first time].'

MEDIA STEW

UFC 179: Extended Preview.

Behind the scenes at Bellator 128.

Countdown to Metamoris 5: Gracie vs. Sakuraba.

Dennis Bermudez stands up for Cody Gibson.

The Work: Tristar Gym. (This is older, but good and timely if you haven't seen it)

Free Fight: Chad Mendes vs. Clay Guida.

Long watches.

MMA Tete-A-Tete: Brock Lesnar, Cody Gibson, does karate work?

...

Press Row with Jordan Breen and Mike Bohn.

...

IT'S TIME WITH BRUCE BUFFER - #06 - Ronda Rousey

TWEETS

Calgary make-up?

Thanks to all my fans and to @danawhite - I cant wait to fight for the @ufc championship in C... http://t.co/MTxNcdCYmW pic.twitter.com/HgbmySGCQE

— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) October 8, 2014

But of course.

For those of you who are curious about how I would beat @rory_macdonald let me say... Any damn way I want to!

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 9, 2014

Wild.

Happy to be Bellator MMA Brand Ambassador!!! http://t.co/DmPbqyzD97

— Royce Gracie (@realroyce) October 8, 2014

So incredibly proud to welcome @realroyce, a true MMA icon, to the #BellatorMMA family as our new brand ambassador http://t.co/wBYr8sbC4N

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 8, 2014

Here we go.

@DiegoSanchezUFC @FightersOnly I can explain it to you but your obvious lack of brain cells would render my efforts useless.

— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) October 9, 2014

@DiegoSanchezUFC @FightersOnly no mate, you tagged me in your reply! Do I need to explain the internet to you as well?

— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) October 9, 2014

"@Lexington24 O snap @DiegoSanchezUFC and @danhardymma twitter war - Less of a war, more of an education so far...

— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) October 9, 2014

Signals might be crossed.

One step closer to the fight with @MieshaTate!! hopefully i can announce it soon!! @ufc @seanshelby @danawhite

— Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) October 8, 2014

Pretty good! #Calhoun's pic.twitter.com/dPpkkBgHXi

— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) October 9, 2014

Like these...

To all the people w/ the negative tweets: 1) Thanks for the follow 2) Why do you hate life so much? For all the supporters: Thank you!

— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) October 8, 2014

cody Gibson went 0-2 his last two fight appearance!

— Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) October 7, 2014

Gotta catch up to Nick.

We got this cool new speed bag and I'm determined to get good at it - so here's square one - I'll... http://t.co/IHYPZNSRtD

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 8, 2014

The struggle.

. @cbdollaway is bitter all these guys in the @ufc are getting Harleys and he got this... http://t.co/hMff4hFp41

— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) October 8, 2014

So it's gonna be @machinegunkelly or @Eminem song I walk out to for @ufc #UFC180 Midwest love.

— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) October 9, 2014

#creepymessageoftheday * I'm guessing another foot fetish guy * http://t.co/FtDYglQ9rp pic.twitter.com/bm6GrI82fj

— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) October 8, 2014

Terrible decision @Sportsnet can't believe you guys took away @UFCCentral @ShowdownJoe

— Mitch Gagnon (@MitchGagnonUFC) October 9, 2014

First night training 20min rounds for @metamorispro. I did 2 with a 3min break in between with my... http://t.co/0BdJ8XXqbG

— Rafael Lovato Jr. (@lovatojrbjj) October 9, 2014

Not fun having a bee nest/hive in your roof cavity and chimney. They seem to find every little gap to come into... http://t.co/Bi5me1pCYr

— Ruan Potts (@RuanFANGZZPotts) October 6, 2014

WHY DOES EVERY DMV HAVE 18 STATIONS, BUT ONLY 2 MUFUCKAS WORKING??? http://t.co/CLNszlgVK4

— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) October 6, 2014

Been a year of up and downs. Fought in UFC, dad died, Jade pregnant, blown car up, buying house, released from UFC. Looking forward to 2015!

— Danny Mitchell (@DannyAranha) October 6, 2014

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 8 2014)

NA

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Dave From Newfoundland.

UFC fight cards in small cites have big impact on the sport

UFC Halifax- I've been lucky enough to attend a few major UFC ppv event's in my day, all of which were either in Las Vegas,Montreal or Toronto. I was always curious about what the difference between a live PPV event and a Fight Night card would be, with the exception of attendance and venue's being smaller scale in most cases, it turns out they are not much different at all from the live event goer's standpoint. But the lasting effect of coming to a smaller city for the first time (at least in this case) is large, very large.

By the time it was all said and done and Rory got his arm raised, in a recap I think most would consider "Fight Night Macdonald vs Saffiedine" an 'okay' card as far as action goes, maybe even a little slow. But as far as impact on its surroundings go? It was a home run. A very big part of this is the very impressive win of local fighter Chris Kelades, on just 5 day's notice Kelades stepped in as a underdog against Irishman Paddy Holohan (who was riding a wave of hype) and scored the upset victory in the fight of the night. The UFC coming to Atlantic Canada made east coast Canadians finally feel not so distant the sport, given we've essentially been left out all of this time (the promotion has visited Toronto,Montreal,Calgary,Winnipeg and Vancouver up until this weekend). But the fact that one of our own got in there a beat a prospect in the fashion he did, just like that, all of a sudden the dream isn't so unrealistic anymore.

...

Check out the rest of the post here.

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