MMA Fighting reports that three UFC fighters have failed drug tests and have been sanctioned in the state of Texas. However, USADA has not sanctioned the fighter for their use of marijuana.
Niko Price, Curtis Blaydes and Abel Trujillo tested positive for marijuana in -competition drug tests for UFC 104 in Houston, Texas this past February. The three were fined $1,000 and suspended 90 days by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
USADA only suspends fighters for cannabis if their drug tests come back with more than 150 ng/ml of the substances metabolites per spokesperson Ryan Madden. The rule is from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
Payout Perspective:
The issue of marijuana is an interesting subject considering the debate on its use varies depends on who you speak with at the time. Notably, Nate Diaz was seen using a vape pen with cannibidiol oil but was not reprimanded by USADA. Diego Brandao was suspend for 9 months when a fight-night drug test turned up marijuana matabolites. A 90-day suspension from Texas likely does not impact Price, Blaydes or Trujillo’s careers but the fine does hurt their pocketbooks. The inference we get from USADA’s lack of invovlement is that the use was not over the requisite amount.
Dope…..how cheap and petty. But I suppose pissing hot is better than doping for performance.