USADA To Continue Testing Fighters During Coronavirus Pandemic, Testing Protocol Updated

The UFC and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have been partnering for several years now in an attempt to clean up the sport from those who use illegal substances. 

While a lot of the MMA world has been affected by the coronavirus, don’t expect to see USADA’s drug testing efforts affected by the virus.

USADA will continue testing UFC fighters during the coronavirus pandemic according to a video statement posted earlier today, but with some updated testing protocol. 

That updated testing protocol is (via MMA Junkie): 

– Personal protective gear for doping control officers. This means mask and gloves, and also hand sanitizer for use during the processing of the sample.

– Both doping control officers and athletes will be asked to wash their hands before testing occurs. Additionally, athletes and doping control officers will be encouraged to maintain a six-foot distance during the process.

– Only doping control officers who have not shown any signs of sickness that meet any of the risk criteria identified by the Centers for Disease Control will be collecting samples.

Even though the UFC recently postponed a trio of cards, all fighters competing on those cards and/or haven’t been booked for a fight at the moment are expected to keep USADA notified of their whereabouts.