Dana White announced an agreement with the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Photo: Reproduction
The UFC took another important step in its crusade against doping in MMA. This Wednesday (3), the organization announced an agreement with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, USADA, which will carry out, from July 1st, drug tests on all fighters under contract on a random basis.
See too
USADA is a non-governmental and non-profit North American entity. Its history includes investigating the case involving Lance Armstrong, who was caught in an advanced doping scheme and, as a result, lost all his Cycling Tour de France titles.
According to information released by the UFC, the anti-doping policy will be completely outsourced to USADA, which will decide with whom, when and where the tests will be carried out.
Ultimate will bear all the financial costs of the program, which is expected to involve 2750 tests per year. This gives an average of more than five exams performed per contracted athlete in a 12-month period. The organization did not specify values, but revealed that the agreement is “multimillion-dollar”.
How will it work
USADA will use the same protocol established by the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, in the UFC. In the announcement of the partnership, some details were disclosed on how punishments will be applied to athletes caught:
Substances detected*: Anabolic steroids, growth hormone, peptides
1st time: two years, with the possibility of four years for possible aggravating circumstances
2st time: Double the punishment given the first time
3st time: Double the punishment given the second time
*Valid both inside and outside the competition period
Substances detected*: marijuana, cocaine, stimulants and glucocorticosteroids
1st time: one year, with the possibility of two additional years due to possible aggravating circumstances
2st time: Double the punishment given the first time
3st time: Double the punishment given the second time
*Tests with these substances will only be carried out during the competition period, that is, 6 hours before the fight and 6 hours after
– The athlete caught during or before a fight will be disqualified and stripped of the title, if applicable, in addition to being removed from the rankings and losing his/her scholarship and any other prize (such as, for example, UFC bonuses);
– All fines or scholarships returned will go towards funding the UFC anti-doping or research program.
[vox id=”29238″]
Comments