UFC announces pre-contract drug testing for performance enhancing drugs
by Geno Mrosko on Jan 17, 2012 2:55 PM EST
in UFC News
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This is certainly interesting timing.
On the heels of Strikeforce light heavyweight Muhammad Lawal failing a drug test for anabolic steroids for his Jan. 7 bout against Lorenz Larkin, the UFC has issued a press release today announcing a new policy effective immediately that dictates pre-contract drug testing for all newcomers to Zuffa promotions.
From the release:
Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world's premier mixed martial arts organization.
UFC and STRIKEFORCE already work closely with the most prestigious regulators and athletic commissions to ensure the healthy and safety of athletes prior to competition. This includes contestants on The Ultimate Fighter®, all of whom are pre-screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to participating on the longest-running sports reality show on television.
All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations.
This is, of course, a necessary step for the world's largest fight promotion and frankly, something it should have been doing all along. Then again, it's fair to question to what point and purpose there is to giving away the fact that if the UFC comes calling with a contract offer, a drug test is coming right alongside it.
After all, only a truly random drug test is going to turn up offenders.
With Lawal and Cristiane Santos, two prominent Strikeforce fighters, both having failed drug tests within the span of a month, the need to do something about steroid use in MMA is obvious. The UFC will undoubtedly garner some solid PR with this press release but will it truly help weed out those who are looking to gain a competitive edge?
Maniacs, what's your take on the matter?
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All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations.
The random tests are key I think. The UFC needs to be screening way more often with surprise tests. They need a field team that just travels to all the gyms and tests all fighters regardless of when their next fight is.
Here do I swear fealty and service to Choro, the mightiest and most hung of all Maniacs. In trolling or absence. In living or dying. From this hour henceforth, until my Lord release me…or the banhammer…take me.
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+1
Surprise test them in the middle of a training camp. Most likely when they’re using them the hardest. Don’t give them the chance to cycle.
Chubby chasin johnson fan. I foolishly picked an unproven middleweight over belfort. And now i'm stuck with this sig for 2 weeks.
100%
Here do I swear fealty and service to Choro, the mightiest and most hung of all Maniacs. In trolling or absence. In living or dying. From this hour henceforth, until my Lord release me…or the banhammer…take me.
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too bad they wont.....nor do they really care.
They just dont want you to come up positive so they can make more money on the fighter. They actually prefer you to be jacked out of your mind because youre more marketable looking. Truth.
Sad but probably true.
Here do I swear fealty and service to Choro, the mightiest and most hung of all Maniacs. In trolling or absence. In living or dying. From this hour henceforth, until my Lord release me…or the banhammer…take me.
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Yep!
They need to have in camp randoms as well. I also like the idea of being tested regardless of who you are fighting in the randoms then all main eventers get tested during camp and after the fight.
\m/
by Edgecrusher71 on Jan 17, 2012 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
Hell Yeah...
If a fighter goes to Indochina, I want a tester waiting in a bowl of rice ready to pop a test needle in his ass
by Snake_Pliskan on Jan 17, 2012 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
so witty ........
now check to see if anyone replies
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
Says the guy who is probably checking back right now to see to replied to his negative reply about someone checking there replies.
\m/
by Edgecrusher71 on Jan 17, 2012 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
how many replies can a reply checker check if a reply checker reply checked replies
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
so witty ……..
now check to see if anyone replies
\m/
by Edgecrusher71 on Jan 17, 2012 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
one does not simply hit reply
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 4:55 PM EST up reply actions
Are they sure they want to catch Overeem so quickly?
I will never pick another british fighter to beat Barboza. I’m a complete idiot for picking Etim. I lost due to one of the most vicious wheel kick ko’s i’ve ever seen. When i’m at home alone when my wife is not there, i occasionally finger my own asshole, whilst not even jerking it. I just love the feeling of it in my butt. I’m a homo. I suck dick for bus fair then walk home. I will never bet Cruz Jackson again, he is too amazing. I love him and am so gay for him and his stolen bike. I would like to form a formal request of fellatio for him because thats how much i’m on his dick.
they could adopt some things from professional cycling whose testing standards are the strictest in the world
I’m not suggesting they do all of these things as they would be very cost prohibitive but here’s a sampling of current testing procedures:
1) year round, unannounced BLOOD testing
2) a blood profile on each athlete with suspensions possible for suspicious changes without a positive test (yes, this does exist today in professional cycling)
3) mandatory where-abouts reporting at all time. Testing is carried out no matter where you are, even if you’re on vacation.
4) mandatory 2 year suspensions for a first offense (with very few exceptions such as proven accidental ingestion which is extremely difficult to prove) and 8 year suspension for a second offense
5) pre-competition blood and urine testing, immediate post-competition blood and urine testing
These are just a few of the standards that cycling has undertaken in order to root out cheaters. Again, I’m not suggesting the UFC adopts these standards and I’m under no illusion that the UFC is any cleaner than the NFL. But the recent post competition positives won’t help the UFC as they attempt to make further inroads with the mainstream.
Life's what happens while you're making other plans
This would put the UFC out of bussiness
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 6:49 PM EST up reply actions
if they were actually serious about doing something about PED's
they could at least add random year round blood tests. That alone would probably make a big difference.
Life's what happens while you're making other plans
Unless they're using WADA standards, this is nothing but a big self jerk session.
But Zuffa zombies will probably fall for it. People need to realize that you cant battle PEDs. Just need to come to grips with them and legalize them. Let everyone be on the same level.
Big Nog for life
Thiago Tavares finally puttin it together!
Head of the Church of Bones Jones.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 17, 2012 3:00 PM EST via mobile reply actions
are you not concerned about fighters long term heath?
some PED’s have horrible long-term health risks
you should totally twitter that on your facebook
Abusing them can cause horrible risks just like abusing any drugs.
But if done properly and monitored by professionals instead of locker room MDs, then the risks are diminished. And after a certain point, it’s really about the fighters being grown ass adults who can decide for themselves the level of risk they can accept.
Big Nog for life
Thiago Tavares finally puttin it together!
Head of the Church of Bones Jones.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 17, 2012 3:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
monitored by professionals
you mean like drug testing to make sure a fighters levels are natural? I don’t see how female athletes taking testosterone can be good in any situation… Do you want to see that legal?
People make claims that injury recovery would be better with some PED’s – but they’re banned to make athletes fear the consequences of pushing your body too far… (imo)
you should totally twitter that on your facebook
i like the part about how how " prestigious" the commissions are
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
Not to make sure they're natural. That's the point, we're trying to go above that.
That’s the whole point – we’ll be seeing enhanced athletes. We just want to avoid the adverse effects to risk the athlete’s health or negatively impact their performance. As far as female athletes – i rather see a bunch of cyborgs then a bunch of gina’s and kim couture’s for the purpose of fighting.
Once you eliminate the disparity in athletic levels within the competition, then competitive advantage has to resort back to technical merits of a fighter and the diversity of their fighting skills. It wont be about who has better cardio, is in better shape, has fewer injuries, has more “strength,” etc… Which means that actual technical skills sas a whole for the entire population of MMA or combat sports competitiors should increase.
Big Nog for life
Thiago Tavares finally puttin it together!
Head of the Church of Bones Jones.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 17, 2012 3:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
but based on the talent pool available for WMMA
a bunch of Gina’s is probably better for the sport right now, at least there would be legitimate competition.
I went 0-2 against Phasebook. Why do I feel that I am just padding his record?" Next time I won’t pick a guy whose best weapon is a somersault against a real bad guy like Scarface.
Check out what I've been drinking lately
I'm sure the sport of MMA would be more equal
but it seems like you’re placing this above the health of the athletes? East German women were subjected to various PED’s (many unknowingly, 70’s) and suffered greatly in the future because of it…
I’m wondering if our disagreement may be placed on our beliefs that people can (you) or can’t (me) be trusted to take care of themselves as adults? Unless I’m off base
you should totally twitter that on your facebook
No you're absolutely correct.
My stance is that any sensible human being would invariably see that past a certain point the ratio of performance to health hazard starts impacting their in-cage fighting. It wont be like the propoganda that you always hear about roided monsters everywhere brawling in bars and raging on the streets. And i think almost everyone here accepts the notion that fighting is not a function of strenght and size. The only useful aspects at least in the modern era of MMA is essentially to get your body safely through training camp. Anything beyond that and it probably negatively affects what you’ve been doing in the gym. So they would have to curtail it if they wish continue their profession as fighters. Obviously abuse is inevitable (Mark Kerr -the smashing machine, hell of a documentary if you havent seen it) but in general i would think that those cases would be the outliers as opposed to the norm. I mean hell even currently, despite the widespread use of HGH and other PEDs, you rarely hear at least within combat sports anyone being adversily affected by them. I just think that if you give those people safe passes and more access to proper use and monitoring that it would make it even safer.
Big Nog for life
Thiago Tavares finally puttin it together!
Head of the Church of Bones Jones.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 17, 2012 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
they get into a cage and beat the shit out of eachother and you want them to decide the level of risk they accept?
doesn’t that seem irresponsable to you?
pride never die.
Well if we all them to choose on the level of risk they want to take
simply with the act of fighting, isnt it hypocritical to say they cant have a choice in the way they heal their bodies and improve their performance as well as chance of getting hurt while training or within the cage? Responsibility should ultimately lie in the hands of the competitors as long as there are guidelines to keep them same from themselves.
Big Nog for life
Thiago Tavares finally puttin it together!
Head of the Church of Bones Jones.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 17, 2012 4:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
if only they wouldn't try to go over those guidelines...
but you do raise a good point about that double standard i just implied
pride never die.
the government doesn't agree with this statement...
even if everyone else knows the truth about steroids, the problem is it would become such a big part of sports to be untrue, it’s a difficult situation
by steady2wheels on Jan 17, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
the government doesn't agree with most things
If they start doing more randoms, what’s gonna happen if someone in Cali has a medical weed card and smokes after they’re fight?
by KCmmaBadBoy on Jan 17, 2012 3:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Glad Diaz is already signed otherwise he would have failed for using that amazing super muscle building extra speed giving mary jane....
If you dont like drugs then dont do them.....give them to me!
If 'only a true random' test turns up offenders,
why do people test dirty before or after a fight? It is not random. Bottom line, the more testing the better.
Agreed just another time they can’t be on them. This is great. Hey you want to fight? No your busy ( cycling off roids ) ok no fight.
by p123 on Jan 17, 2012 3:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
All potential UFC and Stikeforce signees are thankfull for the heads up
Time to cycle off now guys
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist and like that...He's gone. - Keyser Soze
Me too
Haha I thought the same thing exactly. :P Lekker Energie
Still just another day they are forced off PEDs this is great work.
If they just made PEDs carry a 3 year ban , they would be set . A lot of users would stop.
by p123 on Jan 17, 2012 3:52 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
If everyone using steroids in the UFC got caught
we wouldn’t have a UFC
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 3:05 PM EST reply actions
and thank god these last 2 men to be caught fought for strikeforce and not the UFC
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 3:06 PM EST reply actions
it's ok randall
i see what you did there
I went 0-2 against Phasebook. Why do I feel that I am just padding his record?" Next time I won’t pick a guy whose best weapon is a somersault against a real bad guy like Scarface.
Check out what I've been drinking lately
This is great for MMA's growth to mainstream....all the failed drug tests...the contamination of steroids...
This will DEFINITELY help them with getting an event in New York. ESPN needs to be like “look, you need to pay these guys better, steroids aren’t cheap…shit is expensive”
This deal with FOX is going to bring all the MMA hating journalists to every press conference to bombard Dana with questions about the rampant drug abuse of the Zuffa athletes…
Great job UFC, bunch of drug abusing cheating athletes…way to grow the sport
I can already envision the next Outside the Lines UFC story
fuckidy fuck
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by randallhumpfreeze on Jan 17, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
not to sound like a pessimist
but if this includes current fighters signing new contracts as well i have a feeling we’ll be doing a lot of reading this year…
by Carwin_Army on Jan 17, 2012 3:13 PM EST via Android app reply actions
don't worry carwin
the high level guys do stuff like HGH and blood doping…. can’t detect it with urine samples anywasy!
you should totally twitter that on your facebook
Not many professionals in this sport
Cutting weight, personal issues effecting performance, steroids, and cancelling fights due to fear (GSP)
You've been Dana'd
you almost got a full comment in without trolling...
almost…
you should totally twitter that on your facebook
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