Tag: USADA

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 […]

UFC

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.

UFC fans urge Michael Chandler to ‘Start juicing’ ahead of 2024 fight with Conor McGregor amid USADA rift

Michael ChandlerWith Conor McGregor at the forefront of the UFC’s very public breakup with USADA, fight fans want the Irishman’s next opponent, Michael Chandler to even the odds and start juicing up. It’s been an absolutely insane 72 hours for the Las Vegas-based promotion after two of its marquee fighters, Charles Oliveira and Paulo Costa, dropped […]

Michael Chandler

With Conor McGregor at the forefront of the UFC’s very public breakup with USADA, fight fans want the Irishman’s next opponent, Michael Chandler to even the odds and start juicing up.

It’s been an absolutely insane 72 hours for the Las Vegas-based promotion after two of its marquee fighters, Charles Oliveira and Paulo Costa, dropped out of UFC 294 days away from fight night. Fortunately, the promotion was able to lock in some pretty impressive replacements, but amid all the chaos was the news that the United States Anti-Doping Agency would not be working with the UFC beyond December 31, 2023, ending an eight-year relationship that saw fighters tested more than 27,000 times.

At the root of the split appears to be Conor McGregor who has been fighting to get back into the Octagon without adhering to the same testing protocols as every other fighter on the roster.

With USADA on the outs, UFC fans want to see Michael Chandler level the playing feel and start pumping some of that good-good into his body.

Fans Tell Michael Chandler to ‘Get on the Good Stuff’

“Just take the steroids now. Conor is already on his third shot,” one fan suggested with another telling Chandler, “Time to juice up!“

Another clued the former Bellator champ into the news, just in case he had been living under a rock since Wednesday. “Jan. 1 you can start juicing Mike!!!“

Other fans joined in on the fun and offered similar advice, saying:

“GET ON ALL THE GOOD STUFF CHAMP.“

“The best version of Chandler vs. McGregor is with both of you juiced to the gills lmao.“

“You and Conor UFC 300 at light heavyweight time to get on that Mexican supplement bandwagon brah.“

Perhaps Michael Chandler can talk Paulo Costa into sharing his soon-to-be not-so-secret juice.

With USADA on the outs, Paulo Costa’s secret juice is no longer a secret: ‘It will only be juice’

Paulo CostaWith the UFC parting ways with the United States Anti-Doping Agency at the end of 2023, many fighters are celebrating. That includes middleweight contender Paulo Costa whose ‘secret juice’ no longer needs to be a secret. Costa has been dominating the headlines as of late after he was pulled from his highly anticipated clash with […]

Paulo Costa

With the UFC parting ways with the United States Anti-Doping Agency at the end of 2023, many fighters are celebrating. That includes middleweight contender Paulo Costa whose ‘secret juice’ no longer needs to be a secret.

Costa has been dominating the headlines as of late after he was pulled from his highly anticipated clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 on October 21. ‘The Eraser’ revealed that he had undergone surgery after contracting bursitis in his elbow. Unfortunately, the infection did not heal fast enough, forcing the UFC to pull the plug on his long-awaited return.

Instead, former welterweight world champion Kamaru Usman will step up to fight Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi in what will now be a middleweight title eliminator.

Lost in the shuffle of the UFC 294 shakeup was the reveal that the promotion would be cutting its ties with USADA as of January 1, 2024. The news generated a plethora of varying responses from fighters, including Paulo Costa who suggested that the ‘secret’ in his ‘secret juice’ will no longer be a secret.

“After Usada it will be only Juice. No more secrets,” Costa quipped on X.

The Strange Tale of Paulo Costa

All jokes aside, Paulo Costa’s last three years inside the Octagon have been quite the frustrating tale. After coming up short in his lone title opportunity against Israel Adesanya in September 2020, Costa claimed that he was hungover during the fight after drinking a bottle of wine the night before.

He then withdrew from a fight with Robert Whittaker over a contract dispute, and claims to have never agreed to a fight with Jared Cannonier despite the UFC promoting it.

Ahead of his fight with Marvin Vettori, Costa essentially refused to make weight for the middleweight bout and forced the UFC to move it to a 195-pound catchweight and then ultimately to light heavyweight. Then you’ve got his bizarre battle with Luke Rockhold last year, the Ikram Aliskerov drama, and his undergoing surgery weeks before his UFC 294 scrap without informing the UFC.

It’s hard to make sense of anything that has gone on with ‘The Eraser’ in recent years, or why the UFC even bothered to renegotiate his contract, but it’s safe to say that fans are becoming increasingly frustrated by the perceived lack of professionalism that Costa has displayed in recent years.

Dana White slams USADA CEO amid news of imminent split: ‘That was straight-Up scumbagism’

Dana WhiteDana White offered up some early comments on the recent reveal that the UFC would no longer be working with USADA come 2024. United States Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the two parties would be parting ways after working together for the last eight years. “Despite a positive […]

Dana White

Dana White offered up some early comments on the recent reveal that the UFC would no longer be working with USADA come 2024.

United States Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the two parties would be parting ways after working together for the last eight years.

“Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed USADA on Monday, October 9, that it was going in a different direction,” Tygart wrote.

Reacting to Tygart’s comments during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Dana White called the “announcement” a dirty move before confirming that Jeff Novitzky, the current Senior Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance for the UFC and Hunter Campbell, the promotion’s Executive Vice President.

“It was a dirty move by them… There was no announcement yesterday,” White said when asked about the situation with USADA. “That was straight-up ‘scumbagism’, so that will all be addressed today, not by me. I’ll let Novitzky and our lawyer Hunter Campbell handle that. The you know what is about to hit the fan.”

Dana White Confirms a Third-Party Organization Will Continue to Conduct Testing

White was unable to offer any specifics but confirmed that a third-party company is still expected to handle the UFC’s in and out-of-competition testing for athletes.

“We would still pay an independent company,” White confirmed. “It’s the best way to do it. We have a standard that we’ve set here, but a lot of people are not happy with USADA… Our deal is up at the end of the year and we’re working on going in a different direction, especially after the dirty scumbag move they pulled yesterday.”

Kicking off their partnership in 2015, USADA has conducted more than 27,000 tests on UFC athletes over the years.

Jon Jones mocks USADA ahead of UFC 295 title fight return: ‘I’ve never cheated this sport’

Jon Jones mocks USADA ahead of UFC 295 fight return I never cheated this sportAppearing to celebrate the upcoming end of relationship between USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) and the UFC ahead of his heavyweight title fight defense next month, Jon Jones has pleaded his innocence, claiming he has “never cheated” – despite failing multiple anti-doping drug tests during his light heavyweight tenure. Jones, a former two-time undisputed light […]

Jon Jones mocks USADA ahead of UFC 295 fight return I never cheated this sport

Appearing to celebrate the upcoming end of relationship between USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) and the UFC ahead of his heavyweight title fight defense next month, Jon Jones has pleaded his innocence, claiming he has “never cheated” – despite failing multiple anti-doping drug tests during his light heavyweight tenure.

Jones, a former two-time undisputed light heavyweight champion under the banner of the promotion, returned from a three-year-plus hiatus back in March of this year, landing the vacant heavyweight crown with a first round guillotine choke submission win over Ciryl Gane.

And slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 295 next month at Madison Square Garden, pound-for-pound kingpin, Jones looks to lodge his first defense of his heavyweight crown, taking on the returning former two-time divisional champion, Stipe Miocic.

Overnight, however, anti-doping agency, USADA confirmed how come January next, their anti-doping programe enlisted in the UFC will come to an end – with their relationship with the Dana White-led promotion ceasing to boot.

Claiming how their relationship with the organization became “untenable” given the scrutiny surrounding former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor’s return to the sport, USADA revealed that despite positive talks with the UFC earlier this annum, their contract would not be renewed beyond the end of this year.

Jon Jones celebrates the end of USADA – UFC relationship

Reacting to the news of USADA’s departure from the UFC, the above-mentioned, Jones appeared to celebrate the ceasing of their business dealings, claiming his infamous 2017 official ‘No Contest’ against arch-rival, Daniel Cormier, should be overturned once more – after he tested positive for the banned substance, turinabol.

“Man, I survived USADA,” Jon Jones posted on his official X account. “First they said I was guilty of having picograms, then they considered me innocent, next, picograms became legal. Guess what, I’m still here, still unbeaten.”

“That BS no contest over DC (Daniel Cormier) needs to be taken off my record,” Jon Jones continued. “I’ve never cheated this sport and I will stand by that until the day I die.” 

Prior to his positive test for the banned substance, turinabol, following a UFC 197 interim light heavyweight title win over Ovince Saint Preux in 2016, Jones returned a positive in competition test sample, which showed the presence of banned substances, clomiphene, and letrozole – resulting in anti-doping policy violations and periods of retroactive suspensions from active competition. 

What are your thoughts regarding Jon Jones’ comments on USADA?

Breaking – UFC set to end relationship with anti-Doping agency USADA at the beginning of 2024

UFC set to end relationship with drug testing USADA at the beginning of 2024Confirming the re-entry of former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor to the agency’s testing pool tonight in an official press release – anti-doping testing group, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has confirmed their relationship and programe with the UFC will come to an official end at the beginning of the year. USADA, headed up by now-UFC […]

UFC set to end relationship with drug testing USADA at the beginning of 2024

Confirming the re-entry of former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor to the agency’s testing pool tonight in an official press release – anti-doping testing group, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has confirmed their relationship and programe with the UFC will come to an official end at the beginning of the year.

USADA, headed up by now-UFC official, Jeff Novitsky, began an infamous anti-doping testing programe and protocol with the Dana White-led organization back in 2015, in a bid to help clean up the sport of mixed martial arts, following multiple and flagrant anti-doping violations by athletes in the last decade. 

However, in an official press release tonight, whilst confirming the re-entry of ex-two-weight UFC champion, McGregor back into the testing pool – whom called for their relationship with the promotion to be axed earlier this year, also confirmed their partnership with the UFC would cease at the beginning of 2024.

UFC set to end relationship with USADA at the beginning of next year

“We can confirm that Conor McGregor has re-entered the USADA testing pool as of Sunday, October 8. 2023,” An official USADA statement read. “We have been clear and firm with the UFC that there should be no exception given by the UFC for McGregor to fight until he has returned two negative tests and been in the pool for at least six months. The rules also allow USADA to keep someone in the testing pool longer before competing based on their declarations upon entry in the pool and testing results.”

“Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honor the six-monht or longer requirement because, as of January 1. 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Ani-Doping Program. Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed United States Anti-Doping Agency on Monday, October 9. that it was going in a different direction.”

“We are disappointed for UFC athletes, who are independent contractors why rely on our independent, gold-standard global program to protect their rights to a clean, safe, and fair Octagon. The UFC’s move impends the imperils the immense progress made within the sport under USADA’s leadership.”

“The relationship between United States Anti-Doping Agency and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months. One UFC commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not oversee the UFC program since we held firm to the six-month rule involving McGregor, and since we do not allow fighters without an approved medical basis to use performance-enhancing drugs like experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or injuries simply to get back in the Octagon.”

“Fighters’ long-term health and safety — in addition to a fair and level field — are more important to USADA than short-term profits at the expense of clean athletes. USADA is proud of the work we’ve done over the past eight year to clean up the UFC, and we will continue to provide our unparalleled service to UFC athletes through the remainder of our current contract, which ends December 31. 2023. As always, we will continue to uphold the rights and voices of clean athletes in all sports.” 

What are your thoughts on USADA’s relationship with UFC coming to an end?