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UFC posted a video about the history of UFC's USADA implementation on their Youtube and it got me thinking.
There are clearly fighters in the UFC (and lets not mention names) who still use PEDs. You know who they are, I know who they are, and they know who they are. We make threads on here joking about "so and so is the natty GOAT." And then of course there are other fighters we would never suspect.
For example, TJ Dillashaw was being accused by Cody for over 2 years for his EPO use. In those 2 years, TJ Dillashaw passed tons of USADA tests and had many fights. Now, he pops for EPO. But he is trying to tell us it was only for his latest weight cut?? It was just a coincidence that he popped for the same unique banned substance that he was being accused of using for many years?
PEDs are illegal. These fighters using them believe that the risk of getting caught by USADA is overshadowed by the performance boost using PEDs will give them.
So isn't the answer to increase the punishment tenfold? I.E: 1 violation results in a lifetime ban
Why is using a banned substance to gain performance usually a 1 year or 2 year suspension? Because the fighter might have "accidentally ingested a PED" through a contaminated legal supplement? Why is ignorance a defense? Allegedly USADA provides more than enough educational material and warnings to the fighters so this shouldn't be an issue?
I personally don't care if a fighter is on PEDs, but what bothers me is that it is becoming more of a game of "who is the best at hiding their PED use". At least during the Wild West Era of MMA, it was clear everyone was on juice and evened up the playing field.
Now? It seems like only those who are best at utilizing masking agents reap the benefits of USADA.
Summary: Make PED violations result in a permanent ban, or get rid of USADA all together.
There are clearly fighters in the UFC (and lets not mention names) who still use PEDs. You know who they are, I know who they are, and they know who they are. We make threads on here joking about "so and so is the natty GOAT." And then of course there are other fighters we would never suspect.
For example, TJ Dillashaw was being accused by Cody for over 2 years for his EPO use. In those 2 years, TJ Dillashaw passed tons of USADA tests and had many fights. Now, he pops for EPO. But he is trying to tell us it was only for his latest weight cut?? It was just a coincidence that he popped for the same unique banned substance that he was being accused of using for many years?
PEDs are illegal. These fighters using them believe that the risk of getting caught by USADA is overshadowed by the performance boost using PEDs will give them.
So isn't the answer to increase the punishment tenfold? I.E: 1 violation results in a lifetime ban
Why is using a banned substance to gain performance usually a 1 year or 2 year suspension? Because the fighter might have "accidentally ingested a PED" through a contaminated legal supplement? Why is ignorance a defense? Allegedly USADA provides more than enough educational material and warnings to the fighters so this shouldn't be an issue?
I personally don't care if a fighter is on PEDs, but what bothers me is that it is becoming more of a game of "who is the best at hiding their PED use". At least during the Wild West Era of MMA, it was clear everyone was on juice and evened up the playing field.
Now? It seems like only those who are best at utilizing masking agents reap the benefits of USADA.
Summary: Make PED violations result in a permanent ban, or get rid of USADA all together.