The UFC announced a “Call to Action” on Wednesday which it hopes will address the issue of the usage of illicit drugs in the sport. The organization earmarked July 1, 2015 as the date for the new policy to take effect.
Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC COO Lawrence Epstein announced the new policy at a news conference on Wednesday. On July 1 of this year, all fighters will be subject to random performance-enhancing drug testing. It intends to partner with a third-party to administrator overseeing its vision for drug testing its fighters.
There are obvious issues that must be hammered out here. MMA Junkie points out four big questions.
The UFC is also in favor of longer suspensions and harsher penalties doled out by state athletic commissions. The UFC is in favor of a two or four year suspension. Having commissions comply with a new UFC drug policy seems like an easy fix but it’s clear that the impact may reach farther than the UFC.
If NSAC goes along with 2/4 year suspension per @UFC, will that also become suspension for boxers?
— Vada-Testing.org (@Vada_Testing) February 19, 2015
Payout Perspective:
It will be interesting to see how the drug testing policy plays out. In August, ironically the same month that the Cung Le debacle occurred, it was reported that the UFC was looking into a drug testing protocol with third-party organizations. Now, it seems Zuffa will have to pick up where it had previously left off with seeking out an organization that will oversee its drug testing.
The UFC will take a hit here with how much it will need to spend in drug testing but for the integrity of the sport and from a public relations standpoint, it will need to spend whatever is needed to ensure that more fighters are not caught taking PEDs.
Based on Wednesday’s news conference, the UFC’s use of a third party regulatory body to administer drug testing should solve the issue of what happens (like in Macau) where there is not a regulatory authority to oversee drug testing.
While the announcement on Wednesday appears to be a move in the right direction. There are a lot of things the company needs to do to hammer out a policy and its clear that it has to figure out whether state, provincial and international regulatory authorities will comply with the UFC. Hence, the legal implications are far greater than one might think and the company will need to rely on the department that Dana White said “screwed up” the Cung Le issue. It was alluded to that contracts will need to be reworked so that the new policy would be a part of each fighters’ deal. Obviously, submitting to a third party (assuming that is the way the UFC goes) drug testing facility could create issues including liability.
Although just a thought, the new drug policy may be worked into the standard UFC Code of Conduct Policy as well.
As for independent agencies, at least one applauded the announcement Wednesday.
USADA CEO Travis Tygart: “We are thrilled that the @ufc put a stake in the ground for clean athletes and the integrity of sport… (1/2)
— USADA (@usantidoping) February 18, 2015
(2/2) …and we look forward to continuing to assist @ufc as they work to fulfill the promises announced today.” -USADA CEO Travis Tygart
— USADA (@usantidoping) February 18, 2015
Tygart has been an advocate of blood and urine testing in the UFC for a while.
We will see where this goes. MMA Payout will keep you posted.
d says
Nice to see that mma is leading the way in sports for cleaning up its athletes. Let me know when the NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB/ or Boxing follow suit.
saldathief says
Big announcement for boxing fans coming soon! Both Floyd and Pac can start their ped cycles now, with their undetectable, specially designed drugs, from personal scientists that cost more then any mma fighter makes in 5 years lol.. Floyd rumored to make over 150 mil. Anderson Silva who?
tops E says
Ufc=ped….hahaha…leading the way in ped use hAha
d says
Hahaha. What’s funny is Sal actually believes the delusional shit that he spews.
I bet you anything if they are going all out by the way, those undetectable peds that you claim they are using with their wealth(as if ufc fighters who make millions per fight couldn’t afford any cycle of steroids), will have the samples saved and can be tested in the future.
By the way, saying Floyd Mayweather will make 150m for this fight is as delusional of a comment I’ve seen on here ever. He will make no where even remotely close to that figure. The fight itself will probably only gross about 350-375m tops and that is before the massive amount of overhead comes in like the gigantic 60% cut the cable companies get from the ppv. The math doesn’t add up. After all is said and done, the fighters will probably make 100m for the both of them to split. These delusional figures idiots throw out there are very poorly researched.
Dave Lebold says
Why July? The uniforms and now the drug policy. Is there some clause in the contracts that allows them to open them up in July?
d says
Oh by the way Sal, those designer steroids didn’t help the following boxers pass an in competition urinalysis:
-Roy Jones Jr.
-Ricardo Mayorga
-Evander Holyfield
-James Toney
-Antonio Tarver
-Shane Mosley
-Fernando Vargas
michael says
you guys shoul get a room and just get it over with
Pink Pig says
$120 million for Floyd. $80 million for Manny.
LOL
d says
Hahaha.
$120m??? Maybe if he steals $60m after the fight. Show me the evidence other than the words of the Mayweather/Arum. Who is putting the money up? Mayweather? Nice to pay yourself that kind of money. Of course when you are footing the bill, your profit margin is a bit different.