Marshall Zelaznik ensured standard and additional testing of UFC POA athletes. Photo: Reproduction
After a series of doping cases at the beginning of 2015, including that of the former champion Anderson Silva, the Ultimate organization announced that radical measures to combat the use of illegal substances, such as increasing the number of exams and worsening punishments, will be adopted from July. However, UFC Fight Night 61, held last Sunday (22) in Porto Alegre (RS), went ahead of the recommendations and tested all the athletes who participated in the card. The information was revealed by the organization's director of international development, Marshall Zelaznik.
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“All athletes on today’s card were tested. And the athletes on the main card gave blood samples for us to test for Erythropoietin. The (Brazilian MMA Athletic) Commission here, therefore, is a few steps ahead of others, such as the United States. They know that we intend to implement all of this in July and I believe it can be even faster here. This is very positive progress”, declared the leader, at the press conference after the event.
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At an event held last week in Las Vegas (USA), the UFC announced investments that exceed US$ 1 million (R$ 2,86 million, at current prices) in combating the use of performance-enhancing substances (PEDs) only for the year 2015. Furthermore, the organization guaranteed that it will test all protagonists of main fights and title fights out of competition and will implement surprise tests under any circumstances for its athletes, whether they are scheduled to fight or not. Furthermore, the biggest MMA event on the planet also promised to increase the suspension time for fighters caught using doping, with the possibility of imposing suspensions ranging from two to four years.
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