Surprise anti-doping in José Aldo ends in controversy and becomes a police case

J. Aldo (photo) faces C. McGregor in July. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

It was supposed to be just another surprise doping test, based on the new and strict control standards announced by the UFC in a recent press conference, but the collection of material for analysis of the Brazilian champion José Aldo This Thursday (11) it turned into a police case and ended with an order for the professional sent by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NSAC) to leave Brazil.

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It all started when the American Ben Mosier, from the Drug Free Sport laboratory, showed up at the headquarters of Nova União, a fitness academy José Aldo, to collect the champion's urine for a surprise anti-doping test for UFC 189, an event in which the Brazilian will defend his belt against Conor McGregor. Aldo provided the material for collection, but the lack of any type of identification linking Mosier to the NSAC raised suspicions among the fighter's coach and manager, Dedé Pederneiras, who immediately contacted the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA).

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In turn, CABMMA contacted the Federal Police, who attended the academy in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and found that Ben Mosier did not have the appropriate visa to work in Brazil. The controversy lasted for a few hours and, after hours of dialogue behind closed doors, the collector was charged and fined R$413,88 and received a notice to leave the country within eight days.

After the incident, Nova União leader Dedé Pederneiras defended his stance on what happened and presented some details about the controversy involving the NSAC collector. “We did everything they asked. Until all the confusion started, Aldo had already done the test, (the urine) was already in the pot. However, when the Brazilian commission arrived here, they saw that the way the collection was done was not the way it had to be done here in Brazil. And there was an added aggravating factor because a federal police officer found that, in fact, the person who was here couldn't even be doing any work, he was working without having the right to work. It’s the same thing as going to the US on a tourist visa or B1/B2, from what I understand, and wanting to work,” he said, in an interview with the channel’s “Combat” website.

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On the CABMMA side, President Rafael Favetti was responsible for clarifying the entity's procedures. “What happened was a doubt about the person. As we have an Athletic Commission here in Brazil that is an absolute partner of the Nevada Athletic Commission, the situation came down to something beyond sports rights. There was an immigration control problem, which precedes anything: the regularity of the outsourced company's envoy to work in Brazil. (…) When we collect, there are certain materials that are part of this process, which is carried out by certain professionals with certain accreditations. We require a professional accredited by WADA, and we do not know if the professional sent had this accreditation. Another issue is the material, which is not the same as what we use. It’s not that he’s right or wrong, but he’s different,” he said to the same publication.

Also according to Favetti, the episode, despite being turbulent, may have been the first step towards greater alignment between the work of regulatory bodies in Brazil and the United States. “It is a unique moment of advancement in the sport. Despite the immigration problem that occurred, athletic commissions are increasingly stronger. I spoke with the president of NAC several times throughout the day, we exchanged emails showing that we are always available to collect material in Brazil. They understood very well and this reinforced our character as partners. What I can say is that what happened will not happen again, because we came into contact with Nevada and, from that fact, ties will become increasingly stronger. We are thinking about making a protocol of intentions to be their extension in Brazil”, he concluded.

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José Aldo will undergo another anti-doping test this Friday (12). According to the North American website “MMA Fighting”, Ben Mosier, although unable to participate in the material collection work, was invited to follow the process.

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