UFC canceled event in the Philippines. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
The cancellation of UFC Philippines, an event that would take place on October 15th in Manila, may have a real unusual reason. The country reportedly imposed highly strict drug surveillance, which forced the organization to scrap the program nine days before the show.
See too
The information comes from journalist Jeremy Botter, from the “FloCombat” website. According to his report, the Philippine government tried to impose a heavy-handed policy on Ultimate members, which would involve not only fighters, but also coaches, corners and show production employees.
The tests would involve not only performance-enhancing substances (such as, for example, anabolic steroids), but also recreational drugs, such as marijuana or cocaine. In case of a positive result, the offender would have their passport withheld and would be forced to remain in the country.
The Philippines has a strict drug policy. The country's president, Rodrigo Duterte, plans to reintroduce the death penalty for drug traffickers, as is the case in nearby nations such as Indonesia.
Officially, the reason given for the cancellation was different. B.J. Penn, who would be in the main fight of the show against Ricardo Lamas, was removed from the fight due to a rib injury. Unable to find a suitable replacement for the main event, the organization canceled the event as a whole.
[vox id=”47890″]
Comments