CABMMA partners with USADA ahead of new UFC drug testing program

The new UFC drug testing policy, under the leadership of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), kicks off Wednesday, and the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) is working on its procedures to follow the new program in Brazil.

MMAFighting.com learned that CABMMA officials met with representatives from USADA and Brazilian Agency of Doping Control (ABCD), the local arm of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), at the Marriott hotel in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, and have partnered ahead of the random, year-round new UFC drug testing program.

With this new partnership, USADA, ABCD and CABMMA can now dialogue and request drug tests in both Brazil and United States. While ABCD works on finishing its whereabout, CABMMA expects to sign an agreement within a week, and use USADA’s technology and whereabout to start randomly testing UFC fighters in Brazil.

CABMMA will also indicate gyms and places where USADA and ABCD can meet fighters and educate them on the new drug testing program.

Random drug testing in Brazil recently became a hot topic when the Nevada Athletic Commission sent Ben Mosier, from Drug Free Sport lab, to test UFC champion Jose Aldo ahead of a UFC 189 bout with Conor McGregor, but the urine sample was discarded when local authorities found out that Mosier didn’t have the proper visa to work in the country. CABMMA later conducted a new drug test.

After working in several UFC events over the past few years, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission was also invited to join Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), sources told MMAFighting.com.

If the deal is completed, MMA fighters suspended in a country would automatically be suspended in the other. In the past, UFC fighters who test positive when fighting in the United States were allowed to compete in Brazil, and the other way around, even though commissions usually respect current suspensions.

The new UFC drug testing policy, under the leadership of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), kicks off Wednesday, and the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) is working on its procedures to follow the new program in Brazil.

MMAFighting.com learned that CABMMA officials met with representatives from USADA and Brazilian Agency of Doping Control (ABCD), the local arm of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), at the Marriott hotel in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, and have partnered ahead of the random, year-round new UFC drug testing program.

With this new partnership, USADA, ABCD and CABMMA can now dialogue and request drug tests in both Brazil and United States. While ABCD works on finishing its whereabout, CABMMA expects to sign an agreement within a week, and use USADA’s technology and whereabout to start randomly testing UFC fighters in Brazil.

CABMMA will also indicate gyms and places where USADA and ABCD can meet fighters and educate them on the new drug testing program.

Random drug testing in Brazil recently became a hot topic when the Nevada Athletic Commission sent Ben Mosier, from Drug Free Sport lab, to test UFC champion Jose Aldo ahead of a UFC 189 bout with Conor McGregor, but the urine sample was discarded when local authorities found out that Mosier didn’t have the proper visa to work in the country. CABMMA later conducted a new drug test.

After working in several UFC events over the past few years, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission was also invited to join Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), sources told MMAFighting.com.

If the deal is completed, MMA fighters suspended in a country would automatically be suspended in the other. In the past, UFC fighters who test positive when fighting in the United States were allowed to compete in Brazil, and the other way around, even though commissions usually respect current suspensions.