Tag: Drug Free Sport International

UFC’s Georges St-Pierre on PED testing: ‘If the organization has power in their testing it’s corrupt’

UFC's Georges St-Pierre on PED testing: 'If the organization has power in their testing it's corrupt'Former two-division UFC champion, Georges St-Pierre has claimed that if any organization has links or “power” when it comes…

UFC's Georges St-Pierre on PED testing: 'If the organization has power in their testing it's corrupt'

Former two-division UFC champion, Georges St-Pierre has claimed that if any organization has links or “power” when it comes to their testing – it’s likely going to cause come claims of corruption, as well as potential questions of a conflict of interest.

St-Pierre, a renowned mixed martial arts legends – heralded as one of the greatest fighters to ever combat in combat sports, enjoyed a lengthy reign as welterweight champion twice in the UFC – before snapping a retirement to snatch the undisputed middleweight crown.

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Minting himself as a two-weight champion back in late 2017, Georges St-Pierre submitted then-middleweight kingpin, Michael Bisping with a rear-naked choke in their title fight at Madison Square Garden, before a bout of debilitating ulcerative colitis forced him back into retirement.

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Georges St-Pierre hints at UFC “corruption” with drug testing

A major proponent for the introduction of drug testing during his era atop the promotion’welterweight pile, Canadian star, St-Pierre has claimed any organization utilizing their own power when it comes to testing for performance enhancing drugs or substances in their company, is very much “corrupt”, however.

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“They’re [the UFC] not with USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) anymore, but I think they hire another organization to do the tests now,” Georges St-Pierre told Theo Von during a podcast appearance. But I do believe that if you want to avoid corruption, it needs to be a seprated entity that do the tests than the organization itself. If the organization has power in their testing, it’s corrupt.”

Over the course of his gold laden spell with the UFC, St-Pierre avenged his sole professional losses to both Matt Hughes and Matt Serra with knockouts, as well as chalked up impressive wins over other contenders including the likes of Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, and Johny Hendricks to name a few. 

UFC hires ex-FBI special agent who interrogated Saddam Hussein to lead new anti-Doping programe in 2024

UFC hire ex-FBI agent George Piro who interrogated Saddam Hussein to lead new anti-doping programeFollowing an earlier announcement this week detailing the ceasing of business dealings between anti-doping agency, USADA and the UFC, the Dana White-led organization will continue to drug test athletes – now alongside Drug Free Sport International, and a new anti-doping program – which will be led by ex-FBI agent, George Piro, who led an interrogation […]

UFC hire ex-FBI agent George Piro who interrogated Saddam Hussein to lead new anti-doping programe

Following an earlier announcement this week detailing the ceasing of business dealings between anti-doping agency, USADA and the UFC, the Dana White-led organization will continue to drug test athletes – now alongside Drug Free Sport International, and a new anti-doping program – which will be led by ex-FBI agent, George Piro, who led an interrogation against Iraqi revolutionary and former president, Saddam Hussein.

In a whirlwind week for the promotion, long-time anti-doping partners, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) confirmed how ex-two-weight champion, Conor McGregor had returned to their official testing pool for the first time since the third quarter of 2021, ahead of a planned return to the UFC in 2024.

Furthermore, the organization confirmed how as of January 1. 2024, their relationship with the UFC would cease, despite prior talks of an imminent contract renewal, with USADA no longer overseeing an anti-doping programe enlisted since 2015. 

And in a media availability overnight, UFC Chief Business Officer, Hunter Campbell, alongside Senior Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Novitsky, described USADA’s treatment of McGregor as “disturbing” and “disgusting”, predicting a potential onslaught of legal litigation facing them in the future as a result.

Drug Free Sport International set to lead new UFC anti-doping programe in 2024

Confirming plans for the renewal of an anti-doping programe in the future beyond January 1. – Campbell revealed how Drug Free Sport International – who have administered drug testing in the likes of the NFL, MBL, and NBA, would partner with the UFC, in to bid to determine a new anti-doping programe following the ceasing of operations with USADA.

And according to Novitsky, the above-mentioned former FBI special agent, Piro, who served as the Team Leader and Lead Interrogator of the Saddam Hussein Interrogation back in 2004, will serve as the independent administrator of the organization’s anti-doping programme.

“I want to introduce, not in person here today but to the UFC world, the independent administrator of the UFC’s new and improved anti-doping progame, George Piro,” Novitsky told assembled media. “When you talk about George Piro, you’re talking about an individual with the highest level of integrity and credibility you can possibly imagine. While I had a noticeable federal law enforcement career, my resume pales in comparison to that of George Piro. And as I talk about George Piro, he’s quite literally an American hero.”

“He just recently retired as the special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Miami, Florida,” Novitsky continued. “He previously was the assistant director of the international operations division at FBI headquarters. He was the supervisor of the FBI’s joint terrorism task force. He’s also a world champion no-gi Jiu-Jitsu masters level. He knows the sport. He knows what the athletes go through from his world-class level training.” 

UFC announces partnership with Drug Free Sports International following news of USADA split

UFCHunter Campbell, the executive vice president of the UFC, announced that the promotion would begin a new partnership with Drug Free Sport International as of January 1, 2024, when their contract with USADA officially expires. The reveal comes on the heels of USADA CEO Travis Tygart’s statement confirming that the two parties would no longer […]

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Hunter Campbell, the executive vice president of the UFC, announced that the promotion would begin a new partnership with Drug Free Sport International as of January 1, 2024, when their contract with USADA officially expires.

The reveal comes on the heels of USADA CEO Travis Tygart’s statement confirming that the two parties would no longer continue working with one another after their relationship became “untenable” over Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return. On October 9, the UFC informed USADA that they would not extend their relationship once the current contract ends on December 31, prompting Tygart to make the announcement.

Dana White offered a scathing response to Tygart’s statement, calling it nothing more than a dirty move.

Hours later, Campbell, alongside Jeff Novitzky, the UFC senior vice president of athlete health and performance, announced at a press event that the promotion would partner with Drug Free Sport, the organization that conducts anti-doping services for the NCAA, MLB, NFL, and the NBA.

The UFC Demands an Apology From USADA

Hunter Campbell and Jeff Novitzky also had some words regarding the statement made by Travis Tygart, calling it a “complete misrepresentation” of what occurred. “What USADA has put out in the last 48 hours couldn’t be farther from the truth.” According to a report by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, the UFC is demanding a retraction and an apology from USADA.

Tygart later followed up with ESPN saying, “We stand by our statement and credibility.”

Campbell also revealed that the promotion’s split from USADA has been in the works for at least a year.

Clearly, it won’t be an amicable one.