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Helwani Explains Why USADA Whereabouts Failures Are “F**ked Up”

MMA reporter Ariel Helwani has criticized the UFC and USADA for expecting fighters to update them on their whereabouts year-round. The discussion surrounding USADA’s whereabouts policy was brought up recently after UFC middleweight Derek Brunson took to Twitter to vent his frustrations after seemingly being flagged for a violation on the app. Since 2015, the…

Continue Reading Helwani Explains Why USADA Whereabouts Failures Are “F**ked Up” at MMA News.

MMA reporter Ariel Helwani has criticized the UFC and USADA for expecting fighters to update them on their whereabouts year-round.

The discussion surrounding USADA’s whereabouts policy was brought up recently after UFC middleweight Derek Brunson took to Twitter to vent his frustrations after seemingly being flagged for a violation on the app.

glitchy app. There’s several athletes out here taking peds but no one failing . Get your gps feature back . Giving someone a failed whereabouts isn’t the same as someone failing a ped test ….

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) May 19, 2022

Since 2015, the UFC has partnered with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to ensure the integrity of the sport is upheld. In testing for banned substances, the organization demands that athletes are available at all times, meaning that they require an accurate update on every fighter’s location.

When competitors are found to have not updated their whereabouts and can not be accessed for testing, they are struck with violations. Perhaps most notably in recent times, featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez was suspended for six months towards the end of 2020 after registering three whereabouts failures.

According to longtime MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the entire policy is questionable. During a recent episode of The MMA Hour, the Canadian assessed Brunson’s tweets on the matter, criticizing the fact that UFC fighters, who are independent contractors, are required to provide an organization with their location when they aren’t employees.

“The Derek Brunson tweets of last week, where he talked about the USADA app, and he talked about how, ‘This app sucks, and I have to tell them where I am 24/7, and this is crazy.’ And I responded to it a little bit,” said Helwani. “Could you imagine being an independent contractor, meaning someone who comes to your house, your gardener, right, your guy who fixes your cable, your guy who fixes your broken sink, your plumber, whatever… could you imagine being that guy and coming to your house twice a year, three times a year, but having to tell me what you’re doing for 365? Having to update your whereabouts 365 because you did two or three jobs for me?

“I’m only paying you two to three times a year, but you gotta tell me where you are at all times, and by the way, you’ve gotta wear a uniform when you come to my house, you’ve gotta do what I say, you can’t come in wearing this type of clothes. No, that’s not how life works,” asserted Helwani.

Helwani went on to note that actual employees of the UFC aren’t required to provide their whereabouts, while independently contracted fighters are. That, he says, is “f*cked up.”

“You guys have to update an app to let the promotion know where you are. And guess what, you know what’s the best part? The actual employees of said organization don’t even have to do that… But the independent contractors do. Do you guys realize how f*cked up that is?”

Imagine being an “independent contractor” yet having to notify someone where you are EVERY SINGLE DAY even though you’re only getting paid for that job approx. 3-4 times a year. Who would agree to such a deal? https://t.co/n0Bv9rwVLi

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 20, 2022

Do you agree with Ariel Helwani’s take on USADA’s whereabouts policy?

Continue Reading Helwani Explains Why USADA Whereabouts Failures Are “F**ked Up” at MMA News.

USADA Issue 14 Month Suspension To Ashlee Evans-Smith After Positive Steroid Test

UFC bantamweight, Ashlee Evans-Smith has been issued a 14 month retroactive suspension by the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) after testing positive for a steroid in a pair of out-of-competition drug test samples obtained back in January of this year. Evans-Smith, who most recently featured professionally at UFC Vegas 15 in November 2020, suffered a […]

Evans-Smith, who most recently featured professionally at UFC Vegas 15 in November 2020, suffered a unanimous decision loss to Norma Dumont, fell to 6-5 professionally as a result.

Evans-Smith, who has accepted her suspension in line with the UFC Anti-Doping Programe, provided documentation detailing how a physician had incorrectly prescribed her an anabolic steroid resulting in her positive tests back in January.

USADA released an official statement detailing Evans-Smith’s transgression and confirmed that as a result of her full and complete cooperation, as well as the incorrect prescription provided to her, she had been issued a reduced period of suspension.

“Ashlee Evans-Smith tested positive for the presence of an anabolic androgenic steroid of exogenous origin following as the result of urine samples collected out-of-competition on January 3. and January 27., 2022. Exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids are classified as Non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents and are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List. Evans-Smith declared dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on both of her doping control forms completed at the time her positive samples were collected.”

“During an investigation of the case, Ashlee Evans-Smith provided evidence, including medical records, indicating that a physician incorrectly prescribed DHEA to her,” The USADA statement read. As such, USADA determined that Evans-Smith’s degree of fault was diminished and that she should receive a reduced period of ineligibility. She also received a reduction for her Full and Complete Cooperation.”

Ashlee Evans-Smith will be eligible to return to active competition in March 2023

Evans-Smith, a native of California, will be eligible to return to active competition in March of 2023 when her 14 month retroactive suspension comes to an end.

Jennifer Gonzalez Released From UFC Ahead Of Debut: ‘USADA Thought I Was Hiding From Them’

Despite finding herself booked for a promotional bow at UFC Vegas 49 next weekend against Josiane Nunes, Chilean flyweight, Jennifer Gonzalez has been officially removed seen her contract with the organization terminated just weeks following her initial signature. The 35-year-old, who boasts a 13-5 professional record, had penned a deal with the organization earlier this […]

The 35-year-old, who boasts a 13-5 professional record, had penned a deal with the organization earlier this month, and was slated to make her first outing on the contract at UFC Vegas 49 on February 26.

Jennifer Gonzalez has competed for the likes of Combate Global and Jungle Fight during her professional career

However, reports earlier this week detailed how Gonzalez had been removed from her scheduled flyweight bow against Nunes at the UFC Apex facility and had been released from her deal with the UFC.

Whilst official reasoning for Gonzalez’s departure remain undisclosed, the 35-year-old, 18-fight professional veteran has detailed a feud with anti-doping agency, USADA, official testers for the UFC, following her departure from the promotion.

“I don’t even know what happened, the truth,” Jennifer Gonzalez told ESPN Chile as translated by Bloody Elbow. “What happened was that this fight (against Josiane Nunes) was all rushed, all rushed. When they (the UFC) informed me of this fight, it meant that I had to do medical tests, blood tests, etc. Also, my passport was expired. Then I had to start doing the processing of my passport. I was out of the gym many times. USADA said that I needed to create a schedule telling them of my location at all times. I did not take that requirement at heart, but I made the schedule telling them that I was at the gym from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. But I was leaving the gym to solve some of the issues for this fight, like physicals and that was it. Nothing more important than that.”

“I was arriving home from an interview with Gonzalo Egas and I was surprised to see the people from USADA were outside of my residence, which is next to the gym,” Jennifer Gonzalez explained. “In Chile, USADA has never approached me. I invited them in and told them to wait for me at the gym. What happened is my house is next to the gym, it’s two buildings with two different gates. I was entering my vehicle into the garage, and the guy from USADA tells me he can’t lose sight of me. I told him that if he came with me, the dogs would catch him. I have two rottweilers. I requested two minutes to get the dogs in, park my truck and meet them at the gym. And when I told him that, I did not realize that he got upset. I opened the doors, let the dogs in, changed me clothes and went to the gym. And they were gone.”

“They had a conflict with Pablo, my partner and coach. Because they wanted to enter from the side and the dogs were, where I left everything open for Pablo to get into the truck,” Jennifer Gonzalez said. “When Pablo was entering the truck, they did not identify themselves as USADA. They thought that I was hiding from them. I don’t mind people going to the gym through the other gate, but why would they want to come through my house to go to the gym?”

Gonzalez detailed how upset she was left by the whole situation, maintaining that throughout her professional career, she had always been a “clean” fighter.

“I was very upset and tired of it,” Jennifer Gonzalez said. “I have never asked them for anything. I have never asked the sport for anything because I know they don’t give anything. I have earned everything alone and I have never had any problems. I was in another country, I fought. I was always clean. Now this happens, and it happens in Chile. From one Chilean to another Chilean. I explained to them why I was asking them to wait, but they felt like they were above me.”

“I spoke to them very kind, respectful,” Jennifer Gonzalez said. “They seemed like they were the owners of my house. And that’s not right. It’s my house, it’s a private matter. I don’t know. Anyway, I’m tired. I trained since I was 13-years-old. I have competed in many places, a great record. I’m at a good level and I know I can win that fight. I’m tired. Sometimes you fall, you get up, you fall and you get up. One more is nothing.”

UFC Vegas 49 is slated to take place on February 26. from the UFC Apex facility, with a short notice 160lbs catchweight main event between Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green booked to take main event honors.

Dana White Says Brock Lesnar Was Tested By USADA Before Mark Hunt Fight

Dana White has revealed that Brock Lesnar was tested for performance-enhancing drugs on multiple occasions leading up to his matchup with Mark Hunt. UFC 200 saw the return of Lesnar to MMA after being away from the sport for just shy of five years. The former heavyweight champion would take on Hunt in his return […]

Dana White has revealed that Brock Lesnar was tested for performance-enhancing drugs on multiple occasions leading up to his matchup with Mark Hunt.

UFC 200 saw the return of Lesnar to MMA after being away from the sport for just shy of five years. The former heavyweight champion would take on Hunt in his return bout and initially got the best of ‘The Super Samoan’ beating him via unanimous decision.

However, following on from the bout it was revealed the result would be changed to a no-contest due to the fact Lesnar had tested both pre-fight and post-fight for the banned substance clomiphene. People were lead to believe that this was due to Lesnar not being under regular USADA testing which allowed him a ‘free pass’ on his return which enabled him to use such banned substances.

The UFC president has now claimed that Lesnar was regularly tested in the build-up to this matchup, in a recent interview with Yahoo Sports.

“USADA was testing him, he was tested leading into that fight,” White said. “He tested negative four times before he got into that fight”

Following on from this Lesnar wouldn’t compete in the UFC again.

Dana White And USADA’s Need To Tighten Testing Regulations

What seemed to cause an issue back in 2016 appears to still be giving the UFC problems now, and although the company uses USADA for testing their athletes more needs to be done by both parties to ensure fighters are competing clean.

Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling gave his thoughts on USADA and the need to implement stronger punishments for those fighters who do get caught testing positive.

“It bothers me, man, it sure does bother me because you should do jail time for doing steroids or EPO or any type of sh*t like that in the UFC, in combat sports, in general. You can literally rearrange someone’s career, their livelihood doing contact sports, man.”

Until testing improves there will unfortunately always be athletes within the sport who try to gain a competitive edge through cheating. What more should USADA do to clamp down even further on these athletes?

Is USADA doing enough to prevent the use of PED’s within the sport?

Aljamain Sterling ‘You Should Do Jail Time For Doing Steroids’

Aljamain Sterling has revealed his frustration with USADA over the lack of international fighters being tested for any performance-enhancing substances. During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour podcast, the current bantamweight champion revealed that there isn’t enough being done to stop fighters cheating. Sterling was also quick to point out due to the nature […]

Aljamain Sterling has revealed his frustration with USADA over the lack of international fighters being tested for any performance-enhancing substances.

During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour podcast, the current bantamweight champion revealed that there isn’t enough being done to stop fighters cheating. Sterling was also quick to point out due to the nature of MMA and contact-sport that should be serious reprimand for those who do get caught up cheating.

“This is not like playing basketball, we’re not shooting hoops, we’re not hitting a baseball into the crowd, you know what I’m talking about, you know, we’re of course we’re dealing with life-changing events when you step into that octagon.” (Transcribed by Sportskeeda.com)

Sterling would go on to say that USADA hasn’t been testing athletes enough and that given the different viewpoints on using PED’s in other countries he wouldn’t be surprised if international fighters are encouraged to use them.

You can Watch Aljamain Sterling’s interview here:

Aljamain Sterling Set To Defend His Title at UFC 273

Despite his frustration with USADA, Sterling will be turning his attention towards UFC 273 where he will defend his bantamweight title in a long-awaited rematch with Petr Yan in April. Sterling acquired the belt from Yan back at UFC 259 following a DQ victory due to an illegal strike and since that there has been bad blood between the pair.

Sterling has made claim before that Petr Yan is cheating or using banned substances within the sport and has spent much of his time as champion stuck in a back and forth with Yan. Finally at UFC 273 with Yan now holding the interim title we will finally get to see who really the best bantamweight on the planet is.

Who do you think wins in the rematch at UFC 273? Aljamain Sterling or Petr Yan?

Aljamain Sterling ‘You Should Do Jail Time For Doing Steroids’

Aljamain Sterling has revealed his frustration with USADA over the lack of international fighters being tested for any performance-enhancing substances.

You can Watch Aljamain Sterling’s interview here:

Aljamain Sterling Set To Defend His Title at UFC 273

Who do you think wins in the rematch at UFC 273? Aljamain Sterling or Petr Yan?