UFC welterweight Kevin Lee was suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission after testing positive for Adderall which is a banned substance that he used to treat ADHD. The suspension will relate back to his August 28th loss to Daniel Rodriguez.
Lee could have applied for a Therapeutic-Use Exemption (“TUE”) but decided not to because he believed that the drug would be out of his system at the time of the fight.
According to its web site, TUE’s may be granted by USADA in certain situations in conformity with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
The prerequisites for a TUE exemption must be made:
- At least 21 days in advance of an athlete’s intended use of the prohibited medication when the athlete is not scheduled to participate in a Bout; or
- At least 90 days in advance of the athlete’s intended use when the athlete is scheduled to participate in any Bout more than 90 days in the future; or
- As soon as practicable when the athlete is scheduled to participate in a Bout with less than 90 days advance notice.
The athlete may have to pay for the TUE request which may have been a reason why Lee did not seek out the exemption. Still, application of it would have saved him from a 6 month suspension.
Lee posted a video of him throwing out the rest of his medication. Lee was diagnosed with ADHD in 2018 but did not use medication until 2020. Adderall assists with ADHD by reducing impulsive behavior and help people concentrate on tasks.
Its unfortunate that Lee will not be using prescribed medication that can help with his overall well-being. While the drug testing protocol prevents the use of banned substances, here is an example where a prescribed medication will not be used due to drug testing. The stigma of ADHD and use of medication may be viewed as a weakness but there’s a reason there is a need for these types of drugs. One would hope that more people take care of their overall well-being and do what’s necessary (including seeking TUEs) to ensure they are well in the long run.
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