UFC President Dana White is putting his best foot forward to create a drug-free environment within the company.
The new policy, installed last week, is to assure that all incoming fighters must comply to taking drug test prior to signing a UFC contract.
White said the reasoning behind employing the new policy is to look out for the safety and longevity of the younger fighters who are just entering the sport.
“These guys who abuse this stuff younger and earlier in their life now have to do this stuff because their body cannot produce testosterone,” White told MMAWeekly.com. “So if we can stop that stuff early with these athletes that are young and have the talent to be here, we feel like we’ll win half the battles.”
Steroid use has detracted the credibility and value of the sport, which White said he hopes the policy can enforce for several fighters in the future.
This policy comes into effect after Strikeforce competitors Muhammed Lawal and Cristine “Cyborg” Santos recently tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs for their respective bouts earlier this year.
Although White is aware there are some fighters who will fail future drug tests, he is hopeful they can be honest and admit to their mistakes.
“I don’t buy that (expletive). Own up to what you did,” he said. “It’s out there, it happens, everybody makes mistakes.”
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