All UFC/Strikeforce signees must undergo pre-contract drug screenings for PEDs

Zuffa is making it a bit more difficult to become a UFC or Strikeforce fighter.

Officials today announced that all potential UFC and Strikeforce fighters, including those who compete on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series, must first pass a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs.

The policy has been put into immediate effect.

Once signed, fighters will undergo the normal event-related drug testing performed by state athletic commissions (or outside agencies Zuffa hires when no regulatory body is available in a specific region, such as Brazil and the U.K.).

"We're committed to the health and safety of our athletes, and we take it very seriously," UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta stated "We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes, and now we're taking it one step further. We're going to test any potential UFC or Strikeforce fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don't want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport."

The announcement was made the same day that the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that former Strikeforce champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal failed a Jan. 7 drug test due to an anabolic steroid.

Currently, nearly 350 fighters are under contract to Zuffa. In 2010, the organization announced customized accident insurance coverage for all competitors.

"The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority," UFC president Dana White stated. "We've seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports, and we're going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and Strikeforce. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field."

This won't make a blind bit of difference. If the UFC are really keen on eliminating dope cheats then adopt Olympic style drug testing that isn't compromised by former NSAC employees.

 

Boom. And that's currently what happens at present. Either way doing it on the fighters entry into SF/UFC is pointless and achieves nothing. Kind of helps though if their President and CEO weren't on gear though......

 

Absolutely. The UFC needs to be seen to be doing something....... The double standard here though as you say is farcical. Reminds me of Vince McMahons 'Wellness Policy'. Load of F'in toilet.

 

I was talking about their former commissioner Lorenzo Fertitta.... Kind of helps when you have a former commissioner and a former Executive Director on board....

 

Evidence also emerged that Carwin was named as one of the 22 recipients to receive steroids by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Dobbins. That story was quietly swept under the carpet.
Ironic to think that their 'biggest' UFC title fight to date was contested by one guy who made a career off them in NCAA/OVW/WWE and another guy who was linked to a Steroid scandal.

 

You're right it doesn't prove anything. Accusations from an Attorney can always be ignored until you fail a test.