UFC Makes Changes To Anti-Doping Policy

The UFC and USADA have been teaming up for the last three years now, with the drug testing program making an immediate impact in the sport.

However, a huge change is coming to the UFC’s anti-doping policy, which is that violations will now get announced once the case is fully resolved.

“I have nothing but the highest caliber of respect for USADA, but it would be obtuse on our part if we did not take a look after a three-year period and say, ‘What are the things we’ve learned and what changes might we need to make to this program?'” UFC Chief Legal Officer Hunter Campbell told ESPN. “If an athlete has a positive drug test, we aren’t putting them in a fight until their case is resolved — but what we can do is give the athlete an opportunity to adjudicate their issue without the public rushing to judgment. Announcing the test result creates this narrative around the athlete before people understand the facts.”

Previously, athletes who potentially failed a drug test would see the announcement of the failure made by the UFC before the whole case had been resolved.

Despite the change made to the drug testing policy, fighters who are still taking illegal substances will definitely still get caught according to Campbell.

“If you have anything in your system, you are going to test positive,” Campbell said. “With the amount of microscopically low doses they can detect, if you’re trying to knowingly cheat, I wish you the best because you are on borrowed time. In terms of accomplishing that, which is what we set out to, we’re doing remarkably well.”

Even though the change has been announced recently, it actually went into effect this past July.