The news of Chael Sonnen’s positive drug test at UFC 117 has once again put the issue of performance enhancing drug use in MMA at the forefront of the industry’s issues list. While MMA is such a new sport – and there are so many issues that need attention – I’m not sure how much longer things can persist without governing bodies or fight leagues taking some sort of action.
The problem with PED use in MMA is allegedly wide spread: anywhere from 30%-70% of MMA fighters are using (depending on whom you ask). However, it should be noted that no reliable numbers or information exist to qualify those claims. We have only anecdotal evidence from the likes of Ken Shamrock or other unnamed insiders from which to base our assessments.
I’m not sure I put much stock in whatever the percentage may be. What does it matter anyway? The real point is that the current system provides too many loopholes and gaps to strongly deter the use of PEDs, which is a knock on the sport for a number of reasons.
Unfortunately, the issue of drug testing usually comes down to money. It’s expensive to create a program which serves as an effective deterrent; a ballpark barometer might be 25%-50% of USADA’s 2009 budget of $13.3 million. It’s unrealistic for a single athletic commission or most fight promotions to fund such an endeavor. The UFC is perhaps the only organization capable of setting up a solid drug testing program.
What would such a program entail? The UFC would need to hire a team of experienced people to manage and enforce the program, but also establish a relationship with a third party testing lab, — or even a group like WADA or USADA — to ensure the testing was carried out properly. Then the UFC would need to get its fighters on-board, and this is perhaps the biggest obstacle aside from funding.
In order for the program to be effective, the UFC must know where all of its contracted fighters are at all times. Thus, the fighters would essentially have to agree to notify the UFC of their whereabouts every 24 hours and give advance notice of movements out of state or country. If that isn’t seen as enough of an invasion of privacy, the fighters would also need to consent to random urine and blood testing at any given time.
That’s a lot to ask — from the UFC and its fighters — but the benefits of an effective drug testing system are potentially substantial:
1. It would help level the playing field for all fighters.
2. It would lesson the chance that fans are cheated or robbed of special moments like UFC 117.
3. If managed properly, it would generate tremendous publicity. The UFC could use its hard line approach on PEDs to gain favorable press from the mainstream media, boost its public image, and one-up the big four sports leagues that only implemented serious drug testing after being called in front of Congress.
4. It would also provide an additional selling point on the regulatory side; yet another discussion the UFC can have with New York about just how much it is doing to ensure the safety and well-being of its athletes.
My own thoughts on this subject have changed over the last few months. Initially, I thought a comprehensive drug testing plan would be absolutely infeasible – even for the UFC – but after further investigation and many conversations with sports industry folk from a wide array of different properties (ATP, MLB, NFL, etc.), I can’t help feel as though it is possible.
An effective drug testing program cannot be established over night, nor will such a program come easily. However, now is the time to do it: the UFC faces no opposition from a player’s union of any sort (the big four do not have this luxury); the benefits outweigh the costs in the medium to long term; and it eliminates some of the UFC’s operating risk.
I have to disagree that the UFC initiating its own PED testing program will be beneficial. To my knowledge, the only part of the world that really cares about whether professional athletes are using PEDs is the US. With the aggressive expansion globally, the UFC would end up having to test fighters in countries where neither the commission nor fans care about the use of these substances.
I understand the benefit that the implementation would have eventually in this country, but I can not imagine that those benefits would outweigh the consistent and perpetual costs of establishing such a program. This program may make for a “cleaner” sport, but I don’t believe that it would ever make for a more profitable company.
While I do applaud the extra effort the UFC put in right now I would much rather see the AC’s step up and do the right thing. Leaving it in the hands of the promoters is a recipe for disaster.
Fighter: No I’m not going to sign away my rights. That isn’t in my contract and you have to honour my contract.
UFC Official: Gee I hope your next drug test comes back clean and we don’t have to cut you terminating your contract.
There are things that can be done to move things along. First is get the right for blood testing. Second get the AC’s to pass a rule that on a second positive you get a life time ban. I would say the large promoters should get together and just do an agreement between them to that effect but I don’t think that would pass legal muster.
One thing you need to keep in mind though is that it is an international sport so if you can’t get an international organization to get on board then Olympic style testing is never going to happen. Fight camps will just pop up where ever there is no testing. But you could make the fighters show up in country a week out from the fight for one sample to be held and another the day before the fight. If the sample the day before is suspicious then the week out sample gets tested. Not perfect but better.
Maybe the cycling model with the biological passport should be adopted. I know many say it can be gotten around, but that is one sport that seems to be getting cleaner in recent years.
What is the biological passport?
I never heard of it before Joseph’s post, but you can read the details here: http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails.asp?MenuId=&id=NTQzOA. I don’t know why they use the term “passport” when “biography” would be a better description. From what I can tell, they’re using an athlete’s past levels in tests to determine whether current results seem “implausible” given the past levels and under the assumption that the athlete isn’t doping.
This part – “The statistical model, developed by the Lausanne Laboratory, will be applied to the results of analysis to determine an abnormal blood profile score.” – should mean that a “statistically significant” result from the regression will result in increased scrutiny, much like the current test for testosterone, which looks at the testosterone/epitestoterone ratio and triggers a positive result (and additional testing) if the ratio is too high.
It appears to be another carnival side show with the PED’s involved. Another reality show so to speak. Athletes of the past worked hard on their own and didn’t have to use any drugs to perform their duties in their chosen sport. The enhancement of the PED’s give the weak a false sense of superiority while competing and has them continuing during a fight without feeling the damage being done to them personally. By introducing a program controlling the drug use will benefit the MMA to stay around longer than the twenty years that have already passed. It’s established, so make the ethical decision. Not everyone can do this, only a person with a conscious. Sooner or later, studies will be done on fighters who will be identified with brain injuries. That’s not what we want.