MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn tweeted that Roy Nelson was not drug tested prior to his bout with Josh Barnett for Saturday’s UFC event in Japan. However, USADA indicates that its representatives are in Japan and will test fighters participating at UFC Fight Night 75.
Roy Nelson tells me he received no drug tests ahead of UFC Japan. Josh Barnett danced around the question and didn’t give me a clear answer.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) September 25, 2015
MMA Payout asked USADA whether it was conducting drug testing for Saturday’s event taking place in Saitama, Japan. USADA’s Senior Communications Manager Annie Skinner stated in an email that USADA representatives were in Japan and “there will be testing occurring there.”
Payout Perspective:
First, USADA was very quick in response to my query. Second, the fact that USADA reps are at the UFC event, does not necessarily mean everyone was/is being tested. However, one of the questions that came to my mind after contacting USADA was whether there was out of competition testing prior to the event. If we believe Nelson’s statement, then no. USADA has the authority to conduct out of competition testing but it does not necessarily mean it is required for each event and every fighter.
While USADA appears to be conducting the in-competition testing (testing defined as six hours prior to the start of the scheduled weigh-in until six hours after the conclusion of the bout) in Japan, at least one of the main event fighters did not receive out of competition testing.
Certainly there is a presumption that at least the fighters in the main event would receive more scrutiny (i.e., drug testing). Even though Nelson’s physique does not suggest any enhancements, the anti-doping program was put in place to clean up and monitor the UFC. Testing fighters, especially in the infancy stages of the program seems like a necessity.
If there was no out of competition testing, then the testing is more or less useless and only idiots fail. The fact that someone like Josh Barnett (who probably should have been banned by now) is not being tested out of competition, is alarming. What’s even worse is how this makes the entire sport look when Nick Diaz gets nearly a lifetime ban by Nevada for smoking weed meanwhile fighters like Barnett can cheat using PEDs without any repercussion.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/9/25/9363209/ufc-loses-motion-to-dismiss-antitrust-lawsuit-mma-news. Oh no hahahahaha
Open the books! Hahahaha
It bothers me when the UFC announces Josh Barnett as former Heavyweight Champ. He was only Champ while his post fight drug test was at the lab. Then he was a steroid cheat and not champion.
I assume without enhanced prefight testing leading into this bout Josh Barnett is a heavy favourite to win.
Everyone knew the books were opening up you idiot. What’s your point? You act like they are going to find criminal activity on there.
In the words of D Johnson…fans are *expletive* idiots. I wonder what the UFC nuthuggers will say if the judge throws the book at the UFC.
And there are still people out there bashing Fedor, in spite of the fact that he had the wits to stay away from this ever shady business called the UFC.
Seems like Sampson is acknowledging he is a troll with all of his idiotic aliases. This year must be driving him crazy because the UFC is setting all sorts of records for ppv and the expansion is going great. Not to mention Bellator has been doing well and the overall sport is really exploding.
Judges don’t throw the book at people in Civil Court you moron. That is an expression for criminal court.
To throw the book at someone means to punish someone severely. What are you gonna do now? Browse dictionaries just to find a definition that contradicts mine? Please!
Anyway, considering the new underwhelming ratings and disappointing ticket sales in Japan, the UFC ain’t going global anymore than baseball is.
The UFC should stay in north America and Brazil. Eurasia doesn’t buy into its hyped BS so easily.
out of competition, whereabouts based testing didnt/doesnt begin until October 1st.