UFC introduces anti-doping policy for later this year
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Rocked by a recent spate of high-profile suspensions, UFC announced on Wednesday a multimillion-dollar anti-doping plan.
UFC says all fighters will be subject to random performance-enhancing drug testing, effective July 1.
UFC announced the decision one day after fighters Anderson Silva, Nick Diaz, and Hector Lombard were slapped with temporary suspensions for failed drug tests.
Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones also tested positive for cocaine before UFC 182.
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta says the world’s leading MMA promotion will press athletic commissions to impose more severe doping penalties. Fertitta says he supports the World Anti-Doping Association’s two-year ban for first-time offenders and would have no issue with increasing the ban to four years if WADA goes that route.
“Our current methods are catching athletes using PEDs,” Fertitta said. “Although we feel confident that the in-competition has been effective, we recognize the need for a more robust out-of-competition plan in accordance with athletic commissions and regulatory bodies.
“Simply put we can do better. We’ve all seen similar challenges in the world of sports. And consequently we see that the UFC is no more immune to performance-enhancing drug use than any other major sport.”
The UFC is holding talks with multiple drug-testing organizations to establish the expanded drug testing protocol, using WADA standards.
Fertitta said the UFC spent approximately $500,000 on drug testing in 2013 and 2014. He said UFC was now willing to spend “several million dollars” for both in- and out-of-competition testing.
Fertitta said UFC expected to administer around 984 tests a year, based on 41 events.
Former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, a longtime advocate for more drug testing, liked the decision.
“Very happy to learn about the UFC announcing a new comprehensive random PED testing,” he tweeted. “Clearly a big step in the right direction for our sport.”
